XN000022-1987-03-11 — Page 12

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1987

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+HAVING SAID THAT, I AGREE THAT SAFEGUARDS SHOULD ALSO BE PROVIDED TO PREVENT POSSIBLE ABUSE OF POWER, HE ADDED.

THEREFORE, HE WELCOMED THE ADDITION OF A NEW SUBSECTION TO THE BILL MAKING IT COMPULSORY FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S APPROVAL BE SOUGHT BEFORE A PROSECUTION COULD PROCEED UNDER THE NEW SECTION 27.

MR CHEN NOTED THAT SOME ARGUMENTS HAD BEEN PUT FORWARD BY THOSE WHO OBJECTED TO THE NEW SECTION 27 THAT LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS AGAINST THE PUBLICATION OF FALSE NEWS WERE NO LONGER NECESSARY SINCE THEY HAD REMAINED DORMANT THROUGHOUT RECENT YEARS.

HOWEVER, HE SAID THE ABSENCE OF CASES WHICH INVOLVED THE INVOCATION OF LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS AGAINST PUBLICATION OF FALSE NEWS COULD BE ATTRIBUTABLE TO TWO FACTORS.

+FIRSTLY, IT SERVES TO CONFIRM THE DISCIPLINE OF OUR JOURNALISTS WHO WORK CONSCIENTIOUSLY IN THE INTEREST OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.

+SECONDLY, IT DEMONSTRATES CLEARLY THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SUCH PROVISIONS IN DETERRING IRRESPONSIBLE REPORTING, HE SAID.

THE LACK OF PROSECUTION CASES SHOULD THEREFORE BE VIEWED IN A POSITIVE LIGHT, MR CHEN ADDED.

BILL NOT MEANT TO SUPPRESS FREEDOM OF SPEECH

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THE PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986 WILL PROVIDE A LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR FREEDOM OF SPEECH TO BE PROPERLY EXERCISED AND IS NEVER MEANT TO SUPPRESS THIS FREEDOM, DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL, DR HO POINTED OUT THAT PEOPLE NOT ONLY WANTED TO BE INFORMED BUT TO BE INFORMED ACCURATELY AND CORRECTLY,

HE STRESSED THAT PEOPLE WHO REPORTED OR PUBLISHED RESPONSIBLY NEED NOT WORRY ABOUT THE AMENDMENT TO BE PROPOSED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE.

+THERE IS