TNAG-1692-FCO40-2342-Hong-Kong-legislation-regarding-the-control-of-publications--1987 — Page 25

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law should not be discriminatory against the local press.

the

Both

Administration and the Ad Hoc Group thought that there was

merit in this, particularly when the section in question is no

longer part of an Ordinance entitled "Control of Publication

Consolidation Ordinance", but will be transplanted to

Public Order Ordinance which affects everybody.

the

Unfortunately, if thus

amended, this Bill is no

freedom of the press, but it

longer only concerned with the

will adversely affect the freedom of speech and freedom of

expression of everybody in Hong Kong.

The

The word "publishes" deserves looking into.

Shorter Oxford Dictionary defines it as: "to make publicly or

generally known; to declare openly or publicly, to tell or

noise abroad;

to make generally accessible or available; to

place before or offer to the public.

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As the section now stands, the word "publish" in the

context of "publish in any local newspaper" is necessarily a

narrow one and the publication must be in print and in a local

But once the phrase "in any local newspaper" is

longer to be confined to

newspaper.

deleted, the word "publish" is not

local newspapers or even to the mass media but clearly includes

all other statements made in public: during a luncheon talk, or