TNAG-0912-FCO40-1122-Policy-on-housing-and-resettlement-in-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 125

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THE LAW HAS NOT BEEN APPLIED IN A REPRESSIVE WAY. IT HAS

BEEN APPLIED IN A WAY WHICH IS AIMED AT AVOIDING INCONVENIENCE

1 THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND ENSURING THAT THE POLICE FORCE IS AT

ALL TIMES ABLE TO MAINTAIN PUBLIC ORDER. LICENCES FOR MEETINGS

AND PROCESSIONS ARE RARELY REFUSED, AND THE GROUNDS FOR REFUSAL

SPECIFIED IN THE ORDINANCE ARE THEMSELVES LIMITED. IN PARTICULAR,

PROVIDED THAT THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL WILL NOT BE INCONVENIENCED,

THE RIGHT OF PEOPLE TO PETITION THE GOVERNMENT IS ALWAYS RESPECTED.

NEVERTHELESS, THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THE NEED FOR A REVIEW OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE RELATING TO PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PROCESSIONS IN THE LIGHT OF TODAY'S

CIRCUMSTANCES. THIS IS IN HAND. I THINK THERE ARE POSSIBILITIES

FOR CHANGE WHICH WILL REMOVE MUCH OF THE CONCERN NOW BEING VOICED.

WE SHALL PRESS ON AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE BUT WE DO NOT INTEND TO

DE RUSHED BECAUSE WE ARE DEALING WITH A PART OF THE LAW AND ORDER

FIELD WHICH NEEDS CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, ፡፡

MACLEHOSE

FILES

HROGD (6) MRMURRAY

COPIES

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HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE

LONDON

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