XN000022-1979-05-09 — Page 13

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 1979

ON FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES, SUCH AS EXPENSES FOR TEXTBOOKS AND UNIFORMS, FACED BY POOR FAMILIES RAISED BY REV. THE HON. JOYCE BENNETT, HE SAID CASES OF HARDSHIP OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE COULD BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE FAMILY SERVICES DIVISION OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.

THIS CAN BE DONE ON THE INITIATIVE OF THE PARENTS OR OF THE SCHOOL.

+SUCH CASES CAN THEN BE CONSIDERED FOR ASSISTANCE FROM CERTAIN TRUST FUNDS SUCH AS THE LI PO CHUN CHARITABLE TRUST FUND AND THE TANG SHIU KIN/HO TIM CHARITABLE TRUST FUND,* MR. TOPLEY SAID.

GOVT REVIEWING PROVISIONS OF PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE

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THE GOVERNMENT IS REVIEWING THE PROVISIONS OF THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE IN THE LIGHT OF PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON, JOHN HOBLEY, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT HE THOUGHT THERE ARE POSSIBILITIES FOR CHANGE WHICH WOULD REMOVE MUCH OF THE CONCERN NOW BEING VOICED.

*WE SHALL PRESS ON AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, HE SAID, +BUT WE DO NOT INTEND TO BE RUSHED BECAUSE WE ARE DEALING WITH A PART OF THE LAW AND ORDER FIELD WHICH NEEDS CAREFUL CONSIDERATION.+

MR. HOBLEY WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. PETER C. WONG WHO REFERRED TO THE RECENT DECISION OF THE HIGH COURT IN THE YAU MA TEI BOAT DWELLERS CASE AND PUBLIC CONCERN, AND ASKED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT PLANNED TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE WITH RESPECT TO CONTROL OF MEETINGS AND PUBLIC GATHERINGS.

ON THE HIGH COURT'S DECISION, MR. HOBLEY SAID WITHOUT QUESTIONING THE DECISION ITSELF, I DO NOT ACQUIESCE IN SOME OF THE COURT'S GENERAL OBSERVATIONS AS TO WHAT THE POSITION IS IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH DID NOT ARISE FOR DETERMINATION IN THE CASE.+

REFERRING TO THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE, MR. HOBLEY SAID IT CAME INTO BEING IN RATHER DIFFERENT TIMES AND WAS NOT CONCEIVED IN THE CONTEXT OF ANY PARTICULAR SITUATION OF DISORDER.

+ THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MINDFUL OF THE CONSIDERABLE AUTHORITY VESTED IN IT BY THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE, HE SAID.

WAY.

HE EMPHASISED THAT THE LAW HAD NOT BEEN APPLIED IN A REPRESSIVE

+ IT HAS BEEN APPLIED IN A WAY WHICH IS AIMED AT AVOIDING INCONVENIENCE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND ENSURING THAT THE POLICE FORCE IS AT ALL TIMES ABLE TO MAINTAIN PUBLIC ORDER.+

/LICENCES FOR