TNAG-0004-FCO40-40-Departmental-briefs-about-Hong-Kong-1968 — Page 5

NOTE FOR THE LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

FOR THE MOTION TO FIX THE DATES OF THE

WHITSUN ADJOURNMENT

HONG KONG

Hong Kong Public Order Ordinance 1967

The Reform Club of Hong Kong submitted a petition to Parliament

about this legislation. This was tabled on 12 December and

reference may be made to it.

The purpose of the Ordinance is to consolidate into one measure

the various provisions dealing with public order and to strengthen

the law where experience has shown this to be desirable.

This is not a hurried piece of legislation arising from the

disturbances in Hong Kong this year; active work on its preparation

has been in progress for at least two years prior to its enactment.

There were alterations to take account of the experience gained

during recent months, but the ordinance is not designed for dealing

with emergencies. Of the considerable amount of emergency

legislation which it has been necessary to introduce since May, the

only emergency regulations which have been incorporated in the

ordinance are those dealing with the offences of intimidation and

intimidating assembly. These offences have been powerful weapons

in the hands of the local Communists in the overcrowded conditions

of Hong Kong.

It is true that these particular provisions are based on

Southern Rhodesia law, but it should be noted that the law in

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