XN000022-1975-07-30 — Page 8

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 1975

OBJECTIONABLE PUBLICATIONS BILL

TO BE AMENDED

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CERTAIN CHANGES WILL BE MADE TO THE OBJECTIONABLE PUBLICATIONS BILL TO ALLAY UNWARRANTED FEARS THAT IT WOULD BE USED TO MUZZLE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

ONE OF THE AMENDMENTS CONCERNS THE PROVISION RELATING TO THE PUBLICATION OF COMIC STRIPS PORTRAYING THE COMMISSION OF A CRIME SO AS TO BRING THE FORCES OF LAW AND ORDER INTO DISREPUTE. THE AMENDMENT WILL SPECIFY THAT THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO A BONA FIDE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE PORTRAYING AN ACTUAL EVENT.

ANOTHER AMENDMENT WILL ALTER THE TEST FROM +PROMOTING DISTRUST OF OR DISRESPECT FOR THE FORCES OF LAW AND ORDER+ TO BRINGING THOSE FORCES INTO CONTEMPT.

A THIRD CHANGE WILL INTRODUCE A DEFENCE THAT PUBLICATION OF AN ARTICLE IS JUSTIFIED AS BEING FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD FOR LITERARY OR OTHER REASONS.

OUTLINING THE AMENDMENTS IN GENERAL TERMS, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON. JOHN HOBLEY, SAID IT HAD NEVER BEEN INTENDED TO INTRODUCE A PROVISION WHICH DOES OR COULD BE USED TO RESTRICT A PROPER EXERCISE OF THE RIGHT OF FREE SPEECH, NO MATTER WHAT FORM THAT RIGHT MAY TAKÉ.

+TO SUGGEST, AS HAS BEEN SUGGESTED, THAT THIS IS IN SOME WAY A MISCHIEVOUS BILL IS, I SUGGEST, A TRAVESTY OF THE FACTS,+ HE SAID.

SEVERAL UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS SPOKE IN FAVOUR OF THE BILL, SUBJECT TO THE AMENDMENTS.

THE HON. OSWALD CHEUNG FELT THAT THE DRAFTSMAN HAD GONE A LITTLE TOO WIDE IN THE BILL. BUT SAID IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO STRIKE A PROPER BALANCE TO PRESERVE THE RIGHT TO CRITICISE AND TO PRESERVE THE YOUNG FROM CORRUPTION OR DEPRAVITY.

THE HON. LO TAK-SHING NOTED, HOWEVER, THAT WHILE THE GOVERNMENT COULD AND WOULD REDUCE THE OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP UNSUITABLE BOOKS AWAY FROM CHILDREN, THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY WOULD REST WITH PARENTS.

THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN URGED THE GOVERNMENT IN ENFORCING THE PROVISIONS IN THE BILL, TO SEEK FULL CO-OPERATION OF VOLUNTARY GROUPS AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, RATHER THAN RELYING SOLELY ON THE LIMITED RESOURCES OF THE POLICE.

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