TNAG-0969-FCO40-1188-Human-rights-in-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 43

Offences

against

Ordinance

Any person can be quilty of offence against

the Ordinance if he contravenes or permits contravention

of conditons laid down on a licence or publicizes a

meeting or procession which is not licensed or neglects to obey orders and instructions given by the Police, 12(2).

Any gatherings of persons shall be deemed

to be an unlawful assembly when not having a licence or

when three or more persons choose to neglect or refuse to

obey an order given by the Police in accordance with the

Ordinance. 12 (2).

Interference

by police

and

arbitrary

arrest

justified

Every person involved in unlawful assembly

defined as such shall be guilty of an offense and liable

to heavy sentence.

12(3).

Meetings and processions are liable to

interference by people with special intention and innocent persons in licensed meetings are subjected to arbitrary arrest by the Police.

:

ก

n

+

The overbroad definitions of terms and

overwhelming“ power given to the Police will subject every

human group activity in Hong Kong to Police interference and every person is liable to offences against the

Ordinance unless he isolates himself,

L

Selective

application

by Police

!

}

These did not happen due to the selective

application of the Ordinance by the Police. Most of the

groups prosecuted under this part were either defending

their own rights from interference by the Government

or wealthy people or had some political overtone in their

acts. A common feature is that their acts embarassed

the Government:

1971--- Anti-Japanese demonstration by

post secondary students and worker against the occupation

of Diao Yu Tai Islands by the Japanese.

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