TNAG-0004-FCO40-40-Departmental-briefs-about-Hong-Kong-1968 — Page 78

NONS FOR AHE LEADE, OF THE MOUSE CY CONNOKS

FOR THE MOTION TO RIX MIU BATES & THE

CHRISTMAS ANJOU THENT

10 YONG

Hong Kong Public Order Ordinenge 1967

The purpose of the recently enacted liong Kong Public Order

Ordinance is to consolidate into one ordinance 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

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

There wore 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 Yay, 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 ovɛrerowded conditiona of

llon, Kong » The provisions to deal with them were included only

after the most gereful considerztion and because, so long as

communist organisations continue to exist in Hong Kong, there will

always be a danger of intimidation.

It is true that theas particular provisions are based on

Southern Bhodesiɛ law, but it should be noted that the law in question

was enacted in 1960 (1,6. long before the unilateral decloration of

independence in that country).

The Reform Club cf Hong Kong has submitted a petition to

Parliament about this legislation.

and reference may be made to it,

This was tabled on 12 December

One of the points made is that the

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