XN000022-1992-05-20 — Page 16

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 1992

14

BILL TO RETAIN LIMITED REGULATION OF BODIES

AND ASSOCIATIONS INTRODUCED

*

A BILL THAT SEEKS TO REPLACE THE SOCIETIES REGISTRATION SYSTEM BY A NOTIFICATION SYSTEM WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE SOCIETIES (AMENDMENT} BILL 1992, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR IAN STRACHAN, SAID AS IN ANY CIVILISED SOCIETY THE GOVERNMENT WISHED TO PRESERVE THE RIGHT OF INDIVIDUALS TO FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION.

BUT THE GOVERNMENT ALSO NEEDED TO PROTECT CITIZENS FROM CRIMINAL, AND IN PARTICULAR TRIAD ACTIVITIES AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE ITS RESPONSIBILITIES FOR SECURITY, PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC ORDER AS PERMITTED UNDER ARTICLE 18 OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS ORDINANCE.

"THUS WE PROPOSE TO RETAIN LIMITED REGULATION OF BODIES AND ASSOCIATIONS, THE SECRETARY SAID.

17

THE SOCIETIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1992 REQUIRES ALL SOCIETIES AND ASSOCIATIONS WHICH ARE NOT OTHERWISE APPROVED OR REGULATED TO NOTIFY THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE OF THEIR ESTABLISHMENT NOT LATER THAN 14 DAYS AFTER FORMATION.

FAILURE TO NOTIFY WILL BE AN OFFENCE BUT SOCIETIES WHICH DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT WILL NOT BE REGARDED AS UNLAWFUL AUTOMATICALLY.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT IS CONFIDENT THAT THIS ARRANGEMENT WOULD BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE BILL OF RIGHTS ORDINANCE.

POLICE

TO

THE PRESENT ORDINANCE EMPOWERS THE COMMISSIONER OF REFUSE TO REGISTER A SOCIETY ON A NUMBER OF SPECIFIED GROUNDS, INCLUDING WHERE A SOCIETY IS CONNECTED WITH AN OVERSEAS POLITICAL ORGANISATION.

MR STRACHAN POINTED OUT THAT THE BILL PROPOSED ΤΟ SUBSTITUTE THIS BY A PROVISION WHEREBY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY MIGHT PROHIBIT THE OPERATION OF A SOCIETY IF HE CONSIDERS IT NECESSARY IN THE INTERESTS OF SECURITY, PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC ORDER.

OTHER

"THIS REQUIREMENT IS NECESSARY TO DEAL WITH CRIMINAL AND UNDESIRABLE SOCIETIES WHOSE OPERATIONS ARE PREJUDICIAL TO THE WELL-BEING OF HONG KONG," HE SAID.

"IT IS, FOR EXAMPLE, ESTABLISHED POLICY THAT WE DO HONG KONG TO BE USED BY OUTSIDERS FOR THEIR POLITICAL BATTLES CHINA."

NOT WANT AGAINST

AT THE SAME TIME, HE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD LIKE TO REAFFIRM THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE HAD FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND THAT AS LONG AS THEY REMAIN WITHIN THE LAW, IT COULD NOT AND WOULD NOT TAKE ACTION AGAINST THEM, THE SECRETARY SAID.

/MR STRACHAN