2600027 C.S. 20 A
DESPATCH
SAVINGR
From the Governor, Hong Kong ommonwealth Affairs
To the Secretary of State for the S
Repeated to:
Repeated to:-
Date.....
My Reference..
5
CONFIDENTIAL
Your Reference....
408
No.
No.
No.
(a) "Society" The definition does indeed cover a wide range of bodies; however, licenses will not be required to hold meetings unless these are public and open to non-members of the society. There is no shifting of the burden of proof. It is not for a person charged to "prove his innocence".
P.15.
Curfews. Curfews often do have to be imposed without warning and this has always been the case. However, on several occasions during the past months I have not agreed to the Commissioner of Police's request for an immediate curfew, in the interests of getting the public home. In practice there is always a delay of at least three hours and arrests are not made until there has been ample chance for all members of the public to become aware that a curfew is in force, and it is clear they are deliberately flaunting it.
(12)
P.16.
P.17.
APPENDIX 11
? First
The usual time between Second and Third Readings is two weeks.
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The Bill was considered clause by clause at the Committee Stage. I know nothing of the repoet that one member did not have time to read the Bill. If so, this was his fault.
P.18.
The last paragraph is an interesting conclusion, though not unexpected to those with experience of the Reform Club. The lack of debate might, perhaps, equally well be due to the fact that the Bill received massive support and was fully in tune with public opinion.
P.19. In conclusion I do not consider that the points made in the petition or indeed the opposition to the Public Order Ordinance represents more than the opinions of a small number of legally-minded expatriates and local people under their influence. I have no doubt but that the majority of the population of Hong Kong welcome the protection against unruly elements afforded by this law and I recommend that the petition be rejected.
P.20.
You will no doubt recall that your general approval to this measure was conveyed to me before its enactment by your telegram No.2178.
CONFIDENTIAL
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