XN000022-1980-12-03 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1980

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HE ASKED INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO SEEK ADVICE IF THEY SHOULD BE IN DOUBT WHETHER OR NOT THE PROVISIONS OF THE LAW WERE BEING BREACHED. FOR THOSE ELIGIBLE, THE LEGAL AID DEPARTMENT AND THE SERVICES IT PROVIDES ARE AVAILABLE.

HE ALSO ASKED THOSE REPUTABLE INSTITUTIONS AND PERSONS CARRYING OUT MONEY LENDING IN HONG KONG TO CONSIDER AS A MATTER OF PRIORITY WHETHER THE NEW LICENSING PROVISIONS APPLY TO THEM.

THREE CHANGES TO PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) BILL

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THE PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980 WHICH SEEKS TO REVISE THE LAW ON PUBLIC MEETINGS WAS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY WITH THREE AMENDMENTS.

THE CHANGES WERE RECOMMENDED BY AN AD HOC GROUP OF UNOFFICIALS HEADED BY THE HON PETER C. WONG, AND TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THE VIEWS OF THE HONG KONG FEDERATION OF STUDENTS AND THE HONG KONG SOCIAL WORKERS' GENERAL UNION.

AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL, MR WONG NOTED THAT CERTAIN PROVISIONS RELATING TO PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PROCESSIONS IN HONG KONG HAD BEEN WIDELY CRITICISED FOR BEING TOO BROAD IN SCOPE, ENACTED AS THEY WERE AT A TIME WHEN THE LOCAL SCENE WAS NOT AS STABLE AS IT IS TODAY+.

+ IN INTRODUCING THE BILL NOW BEFORE COUNCIL, AIMED AT RELAXING THE EXISTING LAW, MY LEARNED AND HONOURABLE FRIEND, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID THAT THE OBJECT OF THE BILL WAS NOT TO FRUSTRATE PUBLIC DISCUSSION BUT ONLY TO ENSURE THAT SUCH PUBLIC EXPRESSION COULD TAKE PLACE CONVENIENTLY AND WITHOUT THE DISRUPTION OF THE LIVES OF OTHERS.+

THE MAIN TASK OF THE AD HOC GROUP, HE SAID, WAS THEREFORE TO EXAMINE WHETHER A SENSIBLE BALANCE OF THESE COMPETING INTERESTS HAD IN FACT BEEN ACHIEVED.

AFTER CAREFUL DELIBERATION OF THE PROPOSALS AND CONSIDERATION OF REPRESENTATIONS MADE TO UMELCO AND A MEETING WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE GROUP CONCLUDED THAT GIVEN THE PRESENT POLITICAL CLIMATE IN HONG KONG, THE BILL GOES A LONG WAY TOWARDS STRIKING A FAIR BALANCE BETWEEN THE COMPETING INTEREST REFERRED TO BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL+

THE FOLLOWING THREE AMENDMENTS WERE MADE :

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THE NEW DEFINITION OF MEETING' WAS AMENDED TO AVOID THE USE OF THE TERM 'PUBLIC INTEREST', WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DEFINE WITH ANY DEGREE OF CERTAINTY-

THE LIST OF EXEMPTIONS WAS AMENDED TO INCLUDE CONFERENCE OR SEMINARS GENUINELY INTENDED FOR THE DISCUSSION OF TOPICS OF A SOCIAL, RECREATIONAL, CULTURAL, ACADEMIC, EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, PROFESSIONAL, BUSINESS OR COMMERCIAL CHARACTER-

PUBLIC