XN000022-1989-01-11 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1989

2

GOVT SHOULD CONTINUE TO UPHOLD SPIRIT OF ACCOMMODATION

ABOUT

THE SPIRIT OF ACCOMMODATION AND THE GOVERNMENT'S CONCERN THE ANXIETY OF THE PUBLIC OVER SECTION 27 OF THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE MUST CONTINUE AND SHOULD HOPEFULLY REMAIN AS ONE OF THE PRINCIPLES IN THE CONDUCT OF FUTURE REVIEWS OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES

AND PRACTICES.

THE HON STEPHEN CHEONG SAID THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN SUPPORTING THE PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) BILL 1988 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

MR CHEONG NOTED HOWEVER THAT THE GOVERNMENT AND HIMSELF HAD WANTED SECTION 27 OF THE ORDINANCE SCRAPPED FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.

HE SAID THAT HIS CONCERN WAS THE NEED FOR SUFFICIENT SAFEGUARD FOR MEMBERS OF THE FOURTH ESTATE TO CARRY OUT THEIR RIGHTFUL DUTIES, IN THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE FORCED TO DISCLOSE THEIR SOURCES.

THE GOVERNMENT STILL BELIEVED IN THE MERIT OF THE LAW, BUT OUT OF RESPECT TO THE PUBLIC'S WISH AND CONCERN, HAD ACCEDED TO THEIR WISH, MR CHEONG SAID.

NOTING THAT THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION HAD MADE AN EFFORT TO CONSULT THE MEDIA DURING THE REVIEW, MR CHEONG SAID THIS WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN, TO EXPLAIN DISCUSS MUST NOT STOP AT THIS ONE ISSUE BUT MUST CONTINUE OTHER ASPECTS OF ADMINISTRATION.

HE CAUTIONED AGAINST AN ATTITUDE OF COMPLACENCY WHICH HE DISCERNED IN THE SASI'S SPEECH WHEN HE INTRODUCED THE BILL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

AND IN

TO

ALL

HE SAID то THE

MR CHEONG SAID IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO HEAR FROM SASI WHAT LESSONS THE GOVERNMENT HAD LEARNT FROM THE EPISIODE. FOR EXAMPLE, WHETHER PROBLEMS OF COMMUNICATION EXISTED BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY, WHAT PROBLEMS WERE THERE IN THE WAY CONSULTATIONS WERE CARRIED OUT, AND WHETHER LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS HAD BEEN CONSULTED ON HOW THE REVIEW OF THE ORDINANCE WAS CONDUCTED.

MR CHEONG SAID THAT WHILE SECTION 27 HAD BEEN DUBBED BY SOME CRITICS AS "A DRACONIAN SWORD ON THE NECK OF THE MEDIA" THE PUBLICATION OF FALSE NEWS, WITH OR WITHOUT MALICIOUS INTENT, MUST REMAIN EQUALLY HAUNTING TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND NEEDED TO BE DETERRED.

/HE SAID