XN000022-1980-06-13 — Page 3

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FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 1980

THE PREPARATION OF THE BILL FOLLOWED A STATEMENT BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON MAY 9 LAST YEAR THAT THERE WAS A NEED TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE – WHICH DATED BACK TO 1967 - SHOULD BE REVISED AND CLARIFIED IN THE LIGHT OF CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE CHANGE FROM THE EXISTING LICENSING PROCEDURE FOR PUBLIC MEETINGS TO THE NOTIFICATION SYSTEM WAS THE PRINCIPAL PROPOSAL IN THE BILL.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE DEFINITION OF A MEETING WAS NARROWER THAN AT PRESENT IN THAT IT APPLIED TO FEWER TYPES OF GATHER ING.

HE SAID +UNDER THE BILL A MEETING REQUIRING PRIOR NOTIFICATION IS RESTRICTED TO A GATHERING TO DISCUSS MATTERS OF PUBLIC INTEREST. IT DOES NOT EMBRACE GATHERINGS FOR PURPOSES WHICH ARE PURELY SOCIAL, EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS AND THE LIKE,+

THE EXISTING LICENSING SYSTEM, WHICH REQUIRES AN APPLICATION TO POLICE SEVEN DAYS IN ADVANCE OF A MEETING, IS CONSIDERED UNNECESSARILY RESTRICTIVE IN SOME ASPECTS.

THE NEW NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT WOULD NOT. HE SAID, APPLY TO SMALL GROUPS OF 20 PERSONS OR LESS OR TO MEETINGS ATTENDED BY NOT MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE HELD IN PRIVATE PREMISES.

NOR WOULD IT APPLY TO ASSEMBLIES IN SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, PROVIDED THE PURPOSE OF THE GATHERING RELATED DIRECTLY TO THE INSTITUTION AND THE MEETING WAS HELD WITH THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNING BODY.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE WOULD HAVE TO BE NOTIFIED OF A MEETING, WITH FULL DETAILS, SEVEN WORKING DAYS IN ADVANCE OF THE PLANNED GÅTHERING. THIS NOTIFICATION WOULD HAVE TO BE DELIVERED TO THE POLICE BY THE ORGANISER IN PERSON OR HIS REPRESENTATIVE.

+SHORTER NOTICE MAY BE ACCEPTED IN EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES,+ HE SAID.

IF THE COMMISSIONER INTENDED PROHIBITING A MEETING, UNDER THE TERMS OF THE BILL HE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO DO SO WITHIN FOUR WORKING DAYS OF RECEIVING THE NOTIFICATION.

HOWEVER, IF FOR ANY REASON THE COMMISSIONER ALLOWED A NOTIFICATION TO BE MADE LESS THAN SEVEN WORKING DAYS PRIOR TO A MEETING, AND HE INTENDED TO PROHIBIT IT, THEN HE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO TELL THE ORGANISER NOT LATER THAN 24 HOURS BEFORE THE MEETING WAS TO BE HELD.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE PROPOSED LAW WOULD PROHIBIT ORGANISERS FROM ADVERTISING MEETINGS DURING THE FOUR WORKING DAYS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE IR NOTIFICATION TO THE AUTHORITIES.

+THIS IS TO AVOID THE SITUATION WHEREBY A PUBLIC MEETING IS PROHIBITED AFTER IT HAS BEEN ADVERTISED, HE EXPLAINED.

THE SPOKESMAN