TNAG-1854-FCO40-2629-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-memoranda-and-minutes-of-me-1989 — Page 190

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 11 January 1989

香港立法局————————一九八九年一月十一日

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May I, therefore, Sir, in closing, urge that the Administration and this Council be alert enough to constantly review grey areas in existing legislation that might infringe upon basic human rights.

With these remarks, Sir, I support the motion.

MR. MCGREGOR: Sir, I believe that the public outcry over the inclusion of section 27 in the Public Order Ordinance demonstrates in the clearest possible way that the spirit of democracy is alive and kicking in Hong Kong. Public anger and concern over what was seen as a possible potential restraint on the dissemination of information through the media and in other ways must surely be regarded as a healthy and heartening sign that Hong Kong people want to continue to enjoy the utmost freedom in a society that has provided almost all the freedoms expected in a democratic territory. Not the least of these has been the right of the media and others to issue information on matters of public interest without fear of prosecution or persecution. There is not the slightest suggestion that the Hong Kong media has deliberately published false news at any time in the past nor, I am sure, will it willingly do so in the future.

Not every territory in Asia and the Pacific enjoys the wide freedom which exists in Hong Kong to publish, to print and to discuss public issues, particularly political issues or those having some bearing on the development of the political system. In these changing times, it is manifestly important that the Hong Kong Government shall do nothing to endanger or to give the impression of endangering the freedom and the right of people and the media to discuss and to report. A free press is vital to a democratic system of government.

The decision by the Government to repeal section 27 is a wise one. Those who are shaping Hong Kong's future will also be wise if they learn something from this interesting episode; that freedoms in a free society are worth making every effort to retain.

With these remarks, Sir, I support the motion.

MR. SIT: Sir, section 27 of the Public Order Ordinance was passed in March 1987 with a lot of controversy both in and outside this Council. Despite the Administration's effort to liberalize the press law then, it put up fervent defence for the retention of the false news provision. The Administration's reversion on its arguments in less than two years' time raises questions on its judgement one way or the other.