XN000022-1987-03-11 — Page 21

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1987

19.

*AT THE VERY LEAST, THE BILL SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED HURRIEDLY TO THIS COUNCIL FOR SECOND READING BEFORE CLEAR DEFINITIONS HAVE BEEN GIVEN ON CERTAIN CONTROVERSIAL AND OBSCURE EXPRESSIONS.+

MR HUI POINTED OUT THAT AS THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION ANNOUNCED ONLY LAST THURSDAY THAT THE CHIEF SECRETARY WOULD PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 27 OF THE BILL TODAY, IT WAS DOUBTFUL THAT THE MEDIA AND THE PUBLIC WOULD BE ABLE TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON THE AMENDMENT FULLY.

NOTING THAT THE GOVERNMENT PROBABLY INTENDED TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM BEING AFFECTED BY FALSE NEWS WHEN PROPOSING THE BILL, HE SAID REPEATED EFFORTS TO EXPLAIN THE BILL HAD FAILED TO PUT THE MIND OF THE PRESS AND THE PUBLIC AT EASE.

HE SAID THIS REFLECTED THAT THERE MIGHT ACTUALLY BE

SOMETHING AMISS IN THE CONTENT AND WORDING OF SOME OF ITS CLAUSES.

HE THEREFORE SUGGESTED THAT THE BILL SHOULD BE DEFERRED TO ALLOW AMPLE TIME FOR BOTH THE MEDIA AND THE PUBLIC TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS BEFORE IT WAS PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL.

MR HUI SAID HE FELT THAT DURING THIS SENSITIVE TIME, IF THERE WAS ANY NEED FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO ENACT OR AMEND LEGISLATION OF A CONTROVERSIAL NATURE, THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE FULLY CONSULTED AND THEIR VIEWS SHOULD BE GIVEN DUE CONSIDERATION SO AS TO REDUCE CONFLICTS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE.

MR HUI CONCLUDED HIS SPEECH BY QUOTING A FAMOUS CHINESE SAYING: +VIRTUE ALONE IS NOT SUFFICIENT FOR THE EXERCISE OF GOVERNMENT; AND LAWS ALONE CANNOT CARRY THEMSELVES INTO PRACTICE.+

CALL FOR MORE TIME TO STUDY BILL

****

THE PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986 WAS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) CRITICISED BY A LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR AS BEING TOO LOOSE TO INSPIRE CONFIDENCE THAT FREEDOM OF THE PRESS IS BEING SAFE-GUARDED ADEQUATELY+,

SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL, THE HON RICHARD LAI SAID THE THREATS POSED BY SECTION 27 OF THE BILL ON PRESS FREEDOM WAS +REAL, IMMINENT AND ADVERSE TO PUBLIC INTEREST+.

/HE COULD