XN000022-1979-11-15 — Page 9

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1979

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* A NARROWER DEFINITION OF +MEETING+ -- THE BASIS OF THE

PRESENT DEFINITION, NAMELY A SIMPLE PHYSICAL COMING

TOGETHER OF PEOPLE IS CONSIDERED TO BE TOO BROAD, AND IT IS INTENDED THAT GATHERINGS FOR SOCIAL, RECREATIONAL CULTURAL AND OTHER DEFINED PURPOSES SHOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM THE DEFINITION AND FROM CONTROL.

* AT PRESENT, THE PROVISIONS FOR +PRIOR CONTROL+ BY THE POLICE

IN THE FORM OF APPLICATIONS TO AND THE ISSUE OF LICENCES BY THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE EXTEND, BY VIRTUE OF THE WAY +PUBLIC PLACE+ IS DEFINED, TO PRIVATE PREMISES. THE PROPOSAL IS THAT +PRIOR CONTROL SHOULD NOT ENCOMPASS PRIVATE PREMISES SAVE WHERE ATTENDANCE EXCEEDS A CERTAIN NUMBER. LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE MAY BRING PROBLEMS IN THE EVENT OF FIRE, AND SO ON. SO THAT EVEN IN PRIVATE PREMISES SOME CONTROL MAY BE APPROPRIATE ONCE THE NUMBER EXCEEDS A GIVEN LIMIT.

* THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF LICENSING FOR PUBLIC MEETINGS

SHOULD BE REPLACED BY A NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE. THE MEETING MAY BE HELD UPON PROPER NOTIFICATION UNLESS EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE POLICE BY WRITTEN NOTICE ON SPECIFIED STATUTORY GROUNDS.

*WITH REGARD TO PUBLIC PROCESSIONS PRESENTLY DEFINED AS ANY PROCESSION +IN, TO OR FROM A PUBLIC PLACE+, A NEW AND MORE

PUBLIC_PLACE+, PRECISE DEFINITION WILL BE INTRODUCED. IT IS CONSIDERED THAT THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF REQUIRING PUBLIC PROCESSIONS TO BE LICENSED SHOULD BE CONTINUED, WITH AN EXCEPTION IN THE CASE OF A PROCESSION OF LESS THAN, SAY, 15 PEOPLE OR SO.

HOWEVER, HE EMPHASISED THAT HE HAS MERELY DEALT WITH THE GIST OF THE MAIN PROPOSALS OF THE WORKING GROUP AND THAT IT IS NOT INTENDED TO RELAX PROVISIONS DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT THOSE MEETINGS AND PROCESSIONS WHICH ARE IN FACT HELD ARE CONDUCTED PEACEFULLY AND LAWFULLY.

COMMENTING ON THE OBSERVATIONS OF THE HON. PETER C. WONG ABOUT THE LEGAL ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE SCHEMES, MR. GRIFFITHS SAID +BOTH THE SCHEMES ARE WORKING WELL, PROGRESS WILL BE EAGERLY FOLLOWED, AND PROPOSALS FOR EXPANSION WILL BE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED.+

HE ALSO SAID THAT VOLUNTEERS TO THE SCHEMES DESERVE THE THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY FOR PROVIDING A VALUABLE FREE SERVICE TO THE COMMUNTIY.

COMMENTING ON THE SUGGESTION BY THE HON. OSWALD CHEUNG THAT IN FUTURE OFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHOULD EXPOUND, IN MORE DETAIL THAN IS POSSIBLE IN THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS, UPON TOPICS OUTLINED BY HIM. AND THAT THEIR SPEECHES SHOULD PRECEDE THOSE OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS IN THE DEBATE. HE SAID IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW PROCEDURE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REQUIRES AMENDMENT OF THE STANDING ORDERS.

+ACCORDINGLY, THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION IS TO DISCUSS WITH UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS HOW MR. CHEUNG'S ATTRACTIVE SUGGESTION COULD BEST BE CARRIED OUT WITH A VIEW TO ITS IMPLEMENTATION PRIOR TO THIS DEBATE NEXT YEAR, HE ADDED.

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