TNAG-0194-FCO40-230-Emergency-legislation-and-Public-Order-ordinance-discussions-1969 — Page 34

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--will (14)

Mr. Certer/14/12

Mr. Wilford

Parliamentary Office

ntary orrice

The attached Question by Mr. Rankin relates to the Hong

Kong Public Order Ordinance which inter alia includes

provisions for the control of public meetings and processions.

As indicated in paragraph 3 below, Mr. Rankin has shown a

previous interest in this legislation. Since the legislation

has been referred to certain interested bodies in Hong Kong (paragraph 4 below) he might even have a copy in his

his supplementaries may range beyond

possession.

2.

If so,

in this event it would be

the scope of his Question;

advisable to ask for notice since the Bill is a complex one.

The Public Order Ordinance came into operation in November 1967 at the height of the disturbances which took

place in the Colony during that year. Its purpose was to consolidate into one piece of legislation the various

provisions dealing with public order and to strengthen the

law where experience had shown this to be desirable. The

Governor sought the views and advice of the Commonwealth

Office on the draft Public Order Bill before its enactment

and the matter was given prolonged examination in the Commonwealth Office before the legislation was agreed to.

HWA14/24 HWA1 4/34 0Q.13.

Flag/A HUA14/24 (22)

Flag B

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In December 1967 the Ordinance was the subject of a

Question by Mr. Rankin who in the same month presented a

petition to Parliament on behalf of the Reform Club of Hong Kong (an organisation of some 5000 paid-up members) asking

for the Ordinance to be disallowed. The Ordinance was also

the subject of Questions by Mr. Frank Allaun in December

1968 and February 1969.

4.

The Ordinance has been the target of criticism by the Hong Kong Branch of "Justice" (the British section of the International Commission of Jurists). Certain of the

points raised by "Justice" were considered to have some

substance and there has been correspondence with the

Governor with a view to securing certain amendments to the

/ Ordinance.