2
—
FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 1994
"WE
HAVE
THIS
AGAINST REVIEWED THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE BACKGROUND AND HAVE COME UP WITH A SET OF PROPOSALS TO ENSURE THAT THE SAID A GOVERNMENT ORDINANCE CAN ADEQUATELY MEET PRESENT DAY NEEDS, SPOKESMAN WHEN COMMENTING ON THE PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) BILL GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY).
1994,
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE BILL ADDRESSED CRITICISMS
FOR REGULATING PUBLIC PROVISIONS
WERE GATHERINGS CUMBERSOME AND DIFFICULT FOR THE POLICE TO ENFORCE.
THAT THE INFLEXIBLE,
"THE
RIGHTS
TO
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS SHOULD BALANCE INDIVIDUAL'S то FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY AND SPEECH WITH THE RIGHT OF THE COMMUNITY PUBLIC ORDER AND SAFETY,' THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
++
THE
THE BILL SPECIFIES THE GENERAL CONDITIONS AND OBLIGATIONS
HOLDING THE
OF COVERING
AND PUBLIC MEETINGS
IN PROCESSIONS PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE, INSTEAD OF IN SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION.
IT ALSO SPELLS OUT, MORE CLEARLY, THE PROCEDURES FOR ORGANISERS OF PUBLIC GATHERINGS TO FOLLOW.
"THIS WILL MAKE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF GOOD ORDER AND PUBLIC SAFETY EASIER TO UNDERSTAND," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
REFLECTING THE IMPROVED STANDARDS OF POLICE MOBILITY AND THE BILL PROPOSES TO REVISE THE THRESHOLDS FOR NOTIFICATION OF PUBLIC MEETINGS IN THE OPEN FROM 30 AND PUBLIC MEETINGS IN PRIVATE PREMISES FROM 200
COMMUNICATIONS, REQUIRING PERSONS, PERSONS.
ΤΟ
50
ΤΟ
500
"SIMILARLY THE THRESHOLD FOR REGULATION OF PUBLIC PROCESSIONS WILL BE RAISED FROM 20 PERSONS TO 30 PERSONS," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
BILL ALSO SETS OUT THE GROUNDS ON WHICH THE POLICE CAN
OF OR IMPOSE CONDITIONS, IN RESPECT OF THE HOLDING PROHIBIT,
PUBLIC MEETINGS OR PROCESSIONS.
THE
"GIVEN THE CLARIFICATION OF THE POLICE POWERS, THE BILL
TO REPLACE THE PREVIOUS REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROPOSES
LICENSING OF
PROCESSIONS, PUBLIC
WHICH IS CUMBERSOME AND BUREAUCRATIC, WITH A REQUIREMENT FOR ADVANCE NOTIFICATION WHICH ALREADY EXISTS FOR MEETINGS, HE SAID.
*
PUBLIC
CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THE ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE DESIGNATION OF CLOSED AREAS BY THE GOVERNOR, POLICE POWERS ON STOP AND SEARCH, AND REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE IDENTIFICATION WILL BE REVISED.
OPPORTUNITY IS ALSO TAKEN TO REPEAL A PROVISION
THE SUMMARY OFFENCES ORDINANCE WHICH DEALS WITH THE REQUIREMENT FOR A POLICE PERMIT FOR THE USE OF LOUDHAILERS IN PUBLIC PLACES.
UNDER
"THE NOISE CONTROL ORDINANCE CAN ALREADY ADEQUATELY COVER THE PREVENTION OF NUISANCE WHILE THE PROVISIONS IN THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE ALSO COVER SUFFICIENTLY PUBLIC ORDER CONCERNS, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
THE PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994 IS SCHEDULED FOR INTRODUCTION INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON APRIL 20.
0
/3