TNAG-1689-FCO40-2339-Hong-Kong-legislation-regarding-the-control-of-publications--1987 — Page 161

SOCIETY OF JOURNALISM & COMMUNICATION

THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

香港中文大學新聞傳播學系系會

4

(9) Some

Councillors said that those who opposed the legislation

are propagating a right to publish falsehood without regard to their social consequences. No journalist has ever said that the profession

has the right to publish 'false news'. On the contrary, all of them

regard accurate reporting as their duty. Moreover, the Bar Association,

lawyers of the Legal Department, District Board members, Urban

Councillors, Regional Councillors, academics, student organizations and

other pressure groups also have been joining force with journalists in

fighting against the clause. Doesn't the situation reveal that there is really something wrong with the revised bill?

(10) Last, but not the least, we are also disappointed to see the

public being pushed aside. Public opinions were not listened to in this

issue.

We now call upon Your Majesty the Queen to repeal Article 27 of the Public Order (Amendment) Ordinance. (We are convinced that our appeal in

no way contradicts democratic practice because the bill was passed only

by Councillors not democratically elected.) Although our arguments may not be strong and our wording not brilliant, we are sincere.

Yours faithfully,

SOCIETY

AF

MOURNALISM & COMMI

XX P

僳

COLL

亞新

Society of Journalis

SITY W.

mmunication

the Chinese University of Hong Kong

c.c. Members of the British Parliament

Sir David Wilson, the Governor of Hong Kong

THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG SHATIN, N.T. HONG KONG.

TEL: 0-614642-3