XN000022-1992-10-07 — Page 41

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1992

"I AM GLAD THAT THE VERY SERIOUS INCIDENT OF 25 SEPTEMBER WAS QUICKLY RESOLVED. I WANT TO END SMUGGLING, AND I WANT TO DO MORE TO AVOID PUTTING THE LIVES OF OUR POLICEMEN AT RISK IN OUR OWN WATERS.

"SO I SHALL PROPOSE TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT THAT WE PLAN AND PUBLICLY IMPLEMENT A JOINT ANTI-SMUGGLING DRIVE. I FEEL SURE THEY WILL WELCOME THIS. IT WILL SHOW STRONG, EXECUTIVE-LED GOVERNMENT BOTH SIDES IN DEFENCE OF OUR COMMON PROSPERITY AND STABILITY.

ON

REFERRING TO THE SPECTRE OF CORRUPTION, MR FATTEN SAID IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT HONG KONG REMAINED A SOCIETY WHICH WOULD NOT TOLERATE CORRUPTION, NO MATTER WHO MIGHT BE INVOLVED, AND NO MATTER WHAT THE CRIMINALS' HIGH-PLACED CONNECTIONS, ACCESS TO POWER OR FINANCIAL RESOURCES.

"CORRUPTION IS A MENACE TO US ALL. THE ICAC, WITH MY WILL WORK ΤΟ ENSURE THAT THE EVILS OF CORRUPTION ARE UNDERSTOOD, THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CORRUPTION ARE MINIMISED, CHANCES OF BEING CAUGHT AND PUNISHED ARE RECOGNISED TO BE TOO BE WORTH THE RISK.

SUPPORT,

CLEARLY AND THE GREAT TO

"THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG REQUIRE A RELENTLESS ASSAULT ON CORRUPTION BEFORE AND AFTER 1997," HE SAID.

MR PATTEN SAID ONE ASPECT OF LAW AND ORDER ABOUT WHICH HE HAD HEARD A GREAT DEAL SINCE HIS ARRIVAL WAS PUBLIC ORDER AND THE POWERS WHICH POLICE OFFICERS NEEDED TO MAINTAIN IT.

THIS ISSUE WAS ALWAYS DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF THE CONFLICTING VALUES WHICH WERE INVOLVED.

"ON ONE SIDE, WE HAVE THE RIGHT OF MEN AND WOMEN TO COME TOGETHER TO DISCUSS PUBLIC AFFAIRS, TO MAKE THEIR CONCERNS KNOWN TO THE RULING INSTITUTIONS DIRECTLY AS WELL AS TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

"THE GOVERNMENT MUST ENSURE THAT THE PUBLIC HAS GENUINE OPPORTUNITIES ΤΟ PROTEST PEACEFULLY EVEN WHERE THE TARGET IS THE GOVERNMENT ITSELF.

—

"AT THE SAME TIME, THE GOVERNMENT HAS A PARAMOUNT DUTY TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY, AND TO PREVENT VIOLENCE AND DISORDER. THE POLICE, IN OTHER WORDS, MUST HAVE EFFECTIVE POWERS TO PROTECT PUBLIC ORDER.

"I AM CONFIDENT THAT IN OUR CURRENT REVIEW OF THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE, WE WILL BE ABLE TO FIND THE CORRECT BALANCE BETWEEN THE FREEDOM OF THE INDIVIDUAL IN A MODERN SOCIETY AND THE PRACTICAL REQUIREMENTS OF POLICE OFFICERS IN UPHOLDING THE LAW IN A COMMUNITY.

**WE SHOULD NEVER FORGET THAT IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THEY NEED TO BE EXERCISED WITH RESTRAINT.'

1+

CIVILISED

LIBERTIES,

TURNING TO CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, MR PATTEN SAID ANY SOCIETY BASED THE RULE OF LAW MUST ENSURE THAT ITS LAWS REFLECTED THE REALITIES OF CONTEMPORARY LIFE AND THOUGHT.

ON

/" I THINK