LEOPL
concerned, 'publish' for this purpose bears its ordinary
dictionary meaning of making something generally known,
Therefore private conversations, and even speeches to private
meetings and clubs or company circulars will not be caught.
Public speeches would in principle be covered, but bearing in
mind that another ingredient of the offence is the need to show a
likelihood of causing public alarm or disturbing public order, it
would only be in cases of public speeches to large audiences that
the possibility of offending against this section could arise.
Since that means of communicating information ic in volume torms
negligible in Hong Kong compared to what is published by the mass
media, this extension of the bill will have little practical
it removes On the other hand,
effect.
an anomaly.
In DO far ac
the mischief against which the clause is aimed can be effected by
publications other than in newspapers, it is illogical to single
out newspapers as the target of the new section.
Mere allegation of falsity not enough
12.
Examples have been given of instances where a
prosecution might be brought against a publication which had
published the results of an investigation which the Government
finds inconvenient. The example of the Watergate investigation
has been given. But it has to be remembered that the truth does
/...7
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