XN000022-1980-07-23 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 1980

MORE TIME FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON PUBLIC ORDER BILL

*******

DEBATE ON THE PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980 WAS ADJOURNED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SO THAT UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS AND OTHERS MAY HAVE AMPLE TIME BETWEEN NOW AND OCTOBER TO STUDY THE BILL IN DETAIL.

IN MOVING THE SECOND READING, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON JOHN GRIFFITHS, SAID HE LOOKED FORWARD TO HEARING THE IR VIEWS AND TO RECEIVING THE OPINIONS OF THE PUBLIC ON IT.

HE SAID THAT AT FIRST SIGHT, THE AMENDMENT OF THE EXISTING LEGISLATION PROBABLY APPEARED TO MANY TO BE A COMPARATIVELY SIMPLE TASK.

+ IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT IN HONG KONG, AS IN EVERY OTHER FREE COMMUNITY WHERE THE RULE OF LAW PREVAILS, CITIZENS MUST BE ALLOWED TO EXERCISE THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS PUBLICLY THEIR VIEWS ON MATTERS OF PUBLIC INTEREST, AND INDEED OF PUBLIC CONTROVERSY, HE SAID.

HE ADDED THAT THEY MUST BE ABLE TOO TO ASSOCIATE FREELY TO DISCUSS SUCH THINGS.

IN A FREE SOCIETY, MR GRIFFITHS SAID, THAT RIGHT CARRIED WITH IT THE CORRESPONDING RESPONSIBILITY TO DO SO WITHOUT TRESPASSING ON THE EQUAL RIGHT OF ONE'S NEIGHBOUR NOT TO BE INCONVENIENCED (STILL LESS TO HAVE HIS LIFE DISRUPTED) BY THE UNRULY EXPRESSION OF THOSE VIEWS,

THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF THE RULE OF LAW ENVISAGED THE ORDERLY RESOLUTION OF COMPETING RIGHTS BETWEEN CITIZENS, HE SAID.

HONG KONG, MR GRIFFITHS SAID, IS A CROWDED, BUSTLING PLACE WITH MANY OF ITS CITIZENS MORE CONCERNED WITH BEING ABLE TO GO ABOUT THEIR OWN BUSINESS IN PEACE AND QUIET, THAN THEY ARE WITH HAVING THE TROUBLES AND PROBLEMS OF OTHERS DRAWN, PERHAPS FORCIBLY, TO THEIR ATTENTION.

+GOVERNMENT, IN CONSIDERING THE QUESTION OF PUBLIC ORDER HAS TO BEAR THAT IN MIND, HE SAID, ADDING IT HAS TO BE

: + REMEMBERED TOO THAT IN ALL SOCIETIES AND IN ALL PLACES, IT HAPPENS SOMETIMES THAT THOSE WHO HOLD STRONG AND CONTROVERSIAL VIEWS MAY THROUGH MISGUIDED ENTHUSIASM, OR EVEN MALICE, ATTEMPT TO INSIST UPON THE IR EXPRESSION IN PLACES AND AT TIMES WHEN TO DO SO MAY RISK OR EVEN BE DESIGNED TO CAUSE, UNREST,

MR GRIFFITHS CONTINUED IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SUBJECT, AND THE DIFFICULTY OF KNOWING EXACTLY WHERE IT WAS MOST WISE TO DRAW THE LINE, THAT THE WORKING GROUP, THOUGH MEETING FREQUENTLY, TOOK SO MANY MONTHS TO GIVE BIRTH TO THIS BILL.+

IN SIS