TNAG-1690-FCO40-2340-Hong-Kong-legislation-regarding-the-control-of-publications--1987 — Page 45

SEAABU

CONFIDENTIAL

PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE

(Extract)

27.

(1) Any person who publishes false news which is likely to cause alarm to the public or a section thereof or disturb public order shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable:

(a) on conviction on indictment, to a fine of $100,000 and

to imprisonment for 2 years; and

(b) on summary conviction, to a fine of $30,000 and to

imprisonment for 6 months.

(2) It shall be a defence to a charge under subsection (1) for the person charged to prove that he had reasonable grounds for believing that the news to which the charge relates was true.

(3) No prosecution for an offence under this section shall be commenced without the consent of the Attorney General.

CONFIDENTIAL

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