WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 1990
13
MR LEE COMMENTED THAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN HONG KONG HAD TAKEN THE POSITION THAT ALTHOUGH HOMOSEXUALITY BETWEEN CONSENTING ADULTS WAS A SIN, IT WAS NOT A CRIME FOR WHICH THE STATE OUGHT ΤΟ PUNISH PEOPLE.
"INDEED, THERE ARE MANY ACTS WHICH MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY MAY STRONGLY CONDEMN
SUCH AS INFIDELITY ΤΟ ONE'S SPOUSE OR DISHONESTY WITH ONE'S FRIENDS CRIMINAL PENALTIES, HE SAID.
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BUT FOR WHICH THE STATE DOES NOT LEVY
ON THE CONNECTION BETWEEN HOMOSEXUALITY AND AIDS, MR LEE SAID THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE TO SHOW THAT CRIMINALLY PENALISING HOMOSEXUALITY WOULD PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE, ESPECIALLY SINCE SUCH CRIMINAL PENALTIES WOULD OFTEN PREVENT PEOPLE FROM RECEIVING COUNSELLING, TESTING, OR EDUCATION.
BALANCE SHOULD BE STRUCK
A BALANCE SHOULD BE STRUCK BETWEEN MAINTAINING MORAL VALUES AND PROTECTING THE RIGHT OF EVERY CITIZEN, HOMOSEXUAL OR NOT, TO RESPECT FOR HIS PRIVATE LIFE, THE HON RONALD ARCULLI SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
HE NOTED THAT THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION ESTIMATED SEVEN YEARS AGO THAT THE NUMBER OF HOMOSEXUALS COULD AMOUNT TO NEARLY 10 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL POPULATION.
"IT IS THEREFORE RATHER UNSATISFACTORY THAT SUCH A SIGNIFICANT MINORITY OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHO MAY OTHERWISE BE LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS, HAVE TO FEAR PROSECUTION DAY IN AND DAY OUT FOR THEIR HOMOSEXUAL ACTS, WHICH IF CONDUCTED CONSENSUALLY IN PRIVATE DO NO HARM TO OTHER PEOPLE," HE SAID.
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION IN THE DEBATE ON HOMOSEXUALITY, MR ARCULLI SAID HE WOULD SEEK CLARIFICATIONS ON THREE ISSUES FROM THE ADMINISTRATION.
FIRSTLY, HE FOUND THE MOTION DID NOT SEEM то PROVIDE A FULL PICTURE OF THE LEGAL AND SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES OF ANY CHANGE IN THE EXISTINGʻLAW.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE MOTION SEEMED TO CONFORM WITH THE SECOND OF THE THREE OPTIONS PROPOSED IN THE 1988 CONSULTATION
PAPER, + BUT IT WAS NOT CLEAR WHETHER THE NINE OFFENCES LISTED
IN APPENDIX A OF THAT PAPER AS BEING OFFENCES TO BE RETAINED WOULD FORM PART OF ANY CHANGE IN THE EXISTING LAW.
/ALSO, THE
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