TNAG-1366-FCO40-1812-Hong-Kong-Legislative-Council-(Powers-and-Privileges)-Bill-1-1985 — Page 129

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In disposing of Clause 20, there is just a small

question mark that remains in my mind. I am absolutely convinced that in the case of a closed meeting, the publisher of reports of the proceeding of that meeting should not be open

to prosecution. However, should the Council decide to give an undertaking to a third party who come forward to give evidence

that his submission as well as the proceeding of the meeting in

which he is asked to take part will be kept confidential, there

is presently no legal safeguard that the Council or its

committee can make good its promise. I hope this point will be

covered after we have given it some deliberation. Perhaps a

leaf can be taken out of the book of Section 5 of the Judicial

Proceedings (Regulations of Reports) Ordinance in which the

Court is enpowered to prohibit publication of certain

proceedings and information relating to them.

Subject to the acceptance of the proposed deletion of

Clause 17 (d) and Clause 20 at the Committee Stage, whereby I

believe the present freedom of the media in its work on the Council will be preserved, I support the Bill.