XN000022-1987-03-11 — Page 24

22

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1987

AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE OF THE BILL, MR LEE REITERATED THAT THERE COULD BE NO COMPROMISE OVER FREEDOM OF THE PRESS AND THAT NO CONDITIONS SHOULD BE IMPOSED TO RESTRICT FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

HE SAID HE SUPPORTED THE AMENDMENT MOVED BY THE HON MARTIN LEE, NOT BECAUSE IT WAS A SATISFACTORY SITUATION BUT BECAUSE IT WAS LESS UNSATISFACTORY THAN THE ORIGINAL BILL AND THE OFFICIAL AMENDMENT.

+ WOULD ACCEPT ONLY THE COMPLETE DELETION OF SECTION 27 AND WOULD THEREFORE OPPOSE TO THE BILL BEING PASSED INTO LAW AT THE THIRD READING, HE SAID.

HE SAID THE REASON FOR SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT WAS TO TAKE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE AGAINST THE EVENTUALITY OF HIS OPPOSITION BEING REJECTED. IF THAT EVENTUALITY TRANSPIRED, HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE A SATISFACTORY POSITION. BUT WITH THE AMENDMENT, THE SITUATION WOULD BE A LESSER EVIL.

+ IN THE CASE THAT EVEN THIS MOTION FAILED, I WOULD THEN VOTE AGAINST THE LESS PREFERABLE OFFICIAL AMENDMENT BECAUSE OF ITS EMBRACING EFFECT WHICH HAS LED TO PUBLIC ANXIETY, HE SAID.

HE ADDED THAT IF OPPOSITION TO THE ENTIRE BILL FAILED, WHETHER WITH OR WITHOUT AMENDMENT, HE WOULD CALL UPON THE GOVERNMENT TO CONDUCT AN IMMEDIATE REVIEW OF THE LEGISLATION AND TO CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY FOR REMOVAL OF THE WHOLE SECTION 27 AT THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY.

J

+FOR THIS REVIEW, THE ADMINISTRATION MUST CONSULT THE VIEWS OF THE PUBLIC, PARTICULARLY THOSE OF THE JOURNALIST PROFESSION,+ HE SAID.

BACKING FOR PROPER SAFEGUARD FOR FREEDOM OF SPEECH

*****

THE HON DAVID LI TODAY (WEDNESDAY) SUPPORTED THE AMENDMENT TO THE PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986 PROPOSED BY THE HON MARTIN LEE.

SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL, MR LI SAID THAT THE AMENDMENT, DRAFTED AS IT WAS IN SIMILAR TERMS TO THE EQUIVALENT PROVISIÓN IN THE CANADIAN FEDERAL CRIMINAL CODE, PROVIDED A PROPER SAFEGUARD FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION NOT ONLY OF THE MEDIA BUT OF EVERY CONCERNED CITIZEN OF HONG KONG.

/+MR LEF'S