XN000022-1995-07-25 — Page 5

Registration of Local Newspapers

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ensured that newspapers will be allowed the greatest possible freedom in the way that they conduct their activities.

Places of Public Entertainment

removed the power of the Commissioner for Television and Entertainment Licensing to issue permits covering the contents of public entertainment.

removed Police powers to close places of public entertainment on grounds other than public order or safety.

Television Ordinance

removed powers to pre-censor TV and radio broadcasts.

Tomorrow, Members will resume the second reading on the Interpretation and General Clauses (Amendment) Bill which will circumscribe the powers of the law enforcement agencies to enter premises to search for and seize journalistic materials.

Next session, we will complete work on two Prison Rules and S.13c and S.28 of the Telecommunication Ordinance.

At the meeting of the Information Policy Panel on 8 February and in the Chief Secretary's letter to the Chairman of the House Committee of 31 March, the Administration undertook to brief Members on our plans for the remaining security- related laws. I would now brief Members as follows:-

(1)

The Official Secrets Acts which apply to Hong Kong will lapse on 30 June 1997. Our objective is to ensure that we have legislation which can continue in force after 1997 - legislation which will balance the need to protect freedom of expression and the individual with the need to protect public order and security and be consistent with the Bill of Rights Ordinance and the Basic Law. We have put proposals to the Chinese which are wholly consistent with the Bill of Rights Ordinance.