XN000022-1987-01-07 — Page 17

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1987

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+FOR EXAMPLE, THE IMPORTATION OF OBJECTIONABLE PUBLICATIONS IS CURRENTLY COVERED BY THE OBJECTIONABLE PUBLICATIONS ORDINANCE- INCITEMENT TO COMMIT AN OFFENCE BY THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ORDINANCE AND INDUCEMENT TO JOIN AN UNLAWFUL SOCIETY BY THE SOCIETIES ORDINANCE.+

IT IS CLEAR THAT THE RETENTION OF THE CONTROL PROVISIONS OF THE CONTROL OF PUBLICATIONS CONSOLIDATION ORDINANCE IS UNDESIRABLE, MR FORD SAID.

IT WAS THEREFORE PROPOSED THAT THESE CONTROL PROVISIONS, TOGETHER WITH CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO THE RELEVANT SUBSI DI ARY LEGISLATION, BE REPEALED.

MR FORD POINTED OUT THAT THE MALICIOUS PUBLICATION OF FALSE NEWS WHICH WAS LIKELY TO ALARM PUBLIC OPINION OR DISTURB PUBLIC ORDER WAS A SERIOUS MATTER NOT PRESENTLY COVERED IN OTHER LEGISLATION AND SHOULD BE RETAINED ON THE STATUTE BOOK BECAUSE THE PRESS HAD A DUTY TO THE COMMUNITY NOT TO ACT IRRESPONSIBLY.

BUT SINCE THIS ASPECT OF CONTROL RELATED TO THE MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC ORDER, IT WAS APPROPRIATE THAT A COMPENSATORY PROVISION BE MADE IN THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE, HE SAID.

THIS WAS ACHIEVED IN THE PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE THROUGH A NEW CLAUSE.

ANOTHER AMENDMENT RELATED THE OFFENCE OF PUBLIC MISCHIEF MORE SPECIFICALLY TO BOMB HOAXES.

TURNING TO THE REGISTRATION PROVISIONS IN THE CONTROL OF PUBLICATIONS CONSOLIDATION ORDINANCE, MR FORD NOTED THAT THE REQUIREMENT FOR NEWS AGENCIES AND ALL LOCAL NEWSPAPERS TO BE REGISTERED AND FOR LOCAL DISTRIBUTORS OF NEWSPAPERS TO BE LICENSED HAD PROVED USEFUL FOR ENFORCING THE CRIMINAL LAW (BOTH STATUTE AND COMMON) AFFECTING THE PRESS.

HE CITED EXAMPLES OF CONTEMPT OF COURT UNDER THE MAGISTRATES ORDINANCE, PUBLISHING OBSCENE MATERIAL UNDER THE OBJECTIONABLE PUBLICATIONS ORDINANCE AND SEDITION UNDER THE CRIMES ORDINANCE.

THE REGISTRATION PARTICULARS WERE ALSO USEFUL FOR ORDINARY CITIZENS WHO SOUGHT TO BRING CIVIL ACTION AGAINST PUBLICATIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR LIBEL OR BREACH OF COPYRIGHT. IT WAS THEREFORE PROPOSED TO RETAIN THE EXISTING REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS.

WITH REGARD TO THE PAYMENT OF A DEPOSIT REQUIRED UNDER THE ORDINANCE AS A PREREQUISITE TO REGISTRATION, MR FORD SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS SATISFIED THAT THIS REQUIREMENT MIGHT BE DISPENSED WITH.

THE DEFINITION