GRS 1700
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
Confidential
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
TELNO 232
OF 140945Z MARCH 87
INFO PRIORITY HKGO NEW YORK, HKGO BRUSSELS, HKGO WASHINGTON
INFO PRIORITY HKGO GENEVA,--UKMIS GENEVA, FCD
INFO SAVING HKGO SAN FRANCISCO
HKG/GT/145
INDL
PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE
HUD 301/1
16 MAR 1987
·PICER
PA
TOP COPY a DIST
23/3
THE CONTROL OF PUBLICATIONS CONSOLIDATION TAMENDMENT) BILL 1966 AND THE PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986 WERE PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON 11 MARCH. THE FORMER WAS PASSED WITHOUT DEBATE. THE LATTER INVOLVED ALMOST EIGHT HOURS OF LIVELY DEBATE.
BACKGROUND
2. AFTER A THOROUGH REVIEW OF EXISTING LEGISLATION DEALING WITH THE CONTROL OF PUBLICATIONS, TWO BILLS, NAMELY THE CONTROL OF PUBLICATIONS CONSOLIDATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986 AND THE PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) BILL 1996 WERE PUT TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ON 16 DECEMBER 1986 TO AMEND EXISTING LEGISLATION WHICH DEALS WITH
THE CONTROL OF NEWSPAPERS.
3. THE EXISTING LEGISLATION HAD BEEN ON THE STATUTE BOOK FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS AND MANY OF ITS PROVISIONS WERE OUTDATED AND WERE INAPPROPRIATE IN PRESENT DAY CIRCUMSTANCES. THUS THE MAIN AIM OF THESE BILLS WAS TO UPDATE AND LIBERALISE EXISTING LEGISLATION ON
THE CONTROL OF PUBLICATIONS.
THESE BILLS PROPOSED THE REPEAL OF MOST OF THE CONTROL PROVISIONS THAT EXISTED IN THE CONTROL OF PUPLICATIONS CONSOLIDATION ORDINANCE.
THESE INCLUDED PROVISIONS WHICH :
(A) MAKE IT AN OFFENCE TO PRINT OR PUBLISH ANYTHING OF A
SUBVERSIVE NATURE:
(B) PROVIDE FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF NEWSPAPERS AND THE
SUSPENSION OF THEIR PUBLICATIONS:
(C) PROVIDE FOR THE PROHIBITION OF IMPORTATION OF PUBLICATIONS:
(D) PROVIDE FOR THE REGISTRAR OF NEWSPAPERS TO REFUSE OR
SUSPEND THE REGISTRATION OF NEWS AGENCIES:
(E) PROVIDE FOR THE SEIZURE OF PRINTING PRESSES:
Confidential
KEJ
26
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