TNAG-1687-FCO40-2337-Hong-Kong-legislation-regarding-the-control-of-publications--1987 — Page 151

GRS 600

UNCLASSIFIED

FM HONG KONG

TO COMMONWEALTH PRESS UNION 297918 A/B KRMTL G

TELNO MISC 196

OF 17081OZ MARCH 87

TOPROPY

DBT 1

AND TO IMMEDIATE THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS INSTITUTE 5950 A/BTPILON G

INFO IMMEDIATE FCO, PEKING

TO : LORD ARDWICK, CHAIRMAN, PRESS FREEDOM COMMITTEE

COMMONWEALTH PRESS UNION.

HUTD 301/1

RECHY.

17 MAR 1987

OFFICEA

IND

RA

Laken

Mek 23/3.

AND : CHAIRMAN, THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS INSTITUTE.

FROM:

JAMES SO, SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION, HKG.

1. THE ACTING GOVERNOR HAS DIRECTED ME TO REPLY TO YOUR TELEGRAM

OF 13 MARCH 1987.

2. THE ENACTMENT OF THE PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE WAS PART OF AN OVERALL EXERCISE TO UPDATE AND LIBERALISE LEGISLATION ON THE CONTROL OF PUBLICATIONS IN HONG KONG, WHICH HAD BEEN ON THE STATUTE BOOKS SINCE 1951. AS PART OF THIS EXERCISE, A LARGE NUMBER OF STATUTORY CONTROLS HAVE BEEN REMOVED. THESE INCLUDED THE POWER:

(A)

TO MAKE IT AN OFFENCE TO PRINT OR PUBLISH ANYTHING OF A SUBVERSIVE NATURE:

(B) TO PROVIDE FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF NEWSPAPERS AND THEIR

PUBLICATIONS:

(C) TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROHIBITION OF THE IMPORTATION OF

PUBLICATIONS:

(D) TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGISTRAR OF NEWSPAPERS TO REFUSE OR SUSPEND THE REGISTRATION OF NEWS AGENCIES:

(E) TO PROVIDE FOR THE SEIZURE OF PRINTING PRESSES:

(F) TO PROVIDE FOR THE SEARCH, SEIZURE, FORFEITURE AND THE DISPOSAL OF ARTICLES USED FOR CONTRAVENING THE ORDINANCE: AND

(G) TO ALLOW THE REGISTRAR TO REFUSE TO LICENSE, OR CANCEL THE LICENSE OF DISTRIBUTORS.

3. HONG KONG IS A SMALL AND DENSELY-POPULATED PLACE WHERE ANY DISTURBANCES OF PUBLIC ORDER COULD HAVE FAR-REACHING EFFECTS. THE COMMUNITY NEEDS PROTECTION FROM THE PUBLICATION OF FALSE NEWS THAT MAY MAY EASILY CAUSE WISESPREAD PUBLIC ALARM OR DISRUPTION.

1

THE

HONG-