XN000022-1991-06-26 — Page 6

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 1991

MR LAM NOTED THAT THERE WAS KEEN DONATIONS OF ONE TYPF OR ANOTHER.

COMPETITION FOR PUBLIC

"THE OVERSUBSCRIPTIONS FOR SATURDAY EXAMPLE, HE SAID.

F

FLAG DAYS IS A GOOD

THERE WAS THEREFORE A NEED ΤΟ GIVE PRIORITY TO PROMOTING WORTHWHILE CAUSES WHICH THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE RECOGNISED AND SUPPORTED. CHARITY, HE ADDED, WAS AN OBVIOUS PRIORITY.

FOR THESE REASONS, MR LAM BELIEVED IT WAS REASONABLE FOR POLITICAL FUND-RAISING ACTIVITIES TO BE HELD IN WELL-DEFINED PUBLIC PLACES THE ACCESS TO WHICH THEN BECAME A CONSCIOUS PERSONAL CHOICE SO THAT FUNDS COULD BE RAISED FROM PEOPLE WHO IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES WITH, AND SUPPORTED A PARTICULAR CAUSE, AND WHO MADE DONATIONS VOLUNTARILY.

THIS NEW ARRANGEMENT, HE SAID, SHOULD NOT BE SEEN IN ISOLATION.

"THERE ARE MANY OTHER OUTLETS FOR FUND-RAISING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS THE USE OF PRIVATELY OWNED OR MANAGED PREMISES, FOR EXAMPLE, HOTELS OR SHOPPING CENTRES, APPEALS IN THE PRINTED MEDIA, PAID ADVERTISEMENT, DONATIONS TO SPECIFIC BANK ACCOUNTS AND SO ON.

"AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND, I HOPE THAT MEMBERS WILL AGREE THERE ARE GOOD PHYSICAL, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL REASONS FOR DIFFERENCE IN TREATMENT FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF DONATIONS INSOFAR THEIR COLLECTION IN PUBLIC PLACES IS CONCERNED, MR LAM SAID.

THAT THE

AS

THE

HE DESCRIBED AS "SIMPLE MISCONCEPTION" THE SUGGESTION THAT ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSALS WHICH FALL SHORT OF ALLOWING POLITICAL GROUPS TO SOLICIT AND COLLECT DONATIONS IN STREETS MAY HAVE BREACHED A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION.

"THE AMENDMENT IS INTENDED TO REFLECT THE SOCIAL EVOLUTION IN HONG KONG AND TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL MEANS BY WHICH CERTAIN POLITICAL RIGHTS CAN BE EXERCISED WITHIN THE SOCIETY IN HONG KONG,' MR LAM EXPLAINED.

"

INHERENT IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY WAS THE RIGHT AND OPPORTUNITY TO HOLD POLITICAL BELIEFS AND TO DISSEMINATE AND PROMOTE THOSE VIEWS AND IDEAS WITH A VIEW TO CANVASSING SUPPORT, HE SAID.

"THAT OPPORTUNITY IS AVAILABLE IN HONG KONG. THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT SUPPORTS THESE FREEDOMS AND INDEED FACILITATE THE EXPRESSION OF THESE FREEDOMS, HE ADDED.

AS FOR THE SUGGESTION THAT A DIRECT BUT MORE RESTRICTIVE REFERENCE SHOULD BE MADE IN THE LAW TO COLLECTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT ONLY, MR LAM SAID IT WAS UNDESIRABLE TO DO SO.

WHICH, WHILE NOT NONETHELESS

WORTHY

OF

"WE DO NOT WISH TO RULE OUT OTHER CAUSES CONNECTED WITH THE POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT, ARE PUBLIC SUPPORT, HE SAID.

/NOTING SOME