RESTRICTED
177675
MDHIAN 0104
QUOTE
IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO COMMENT ON THE DETAILS OF
SPECIFIC CASES AT THIS STAGE SINCE THE MATTER IS SUB-JUDICE PENDING THE OUTCOME OF CURRENT COURT HEARINGS.
10. I DO NOT THINK IT WOULD BE RIGHT TO VIEW THE CURRENT CONTROLS
ON THE USE OF LOUDSPEAKERS IN PUBLIC AND THE PUBLIC COLLECTION OF
MONEY AS AN INFRINGEMENT OF CIVIL LIBERTIES. THESE LAWS ARE OF LONG STANDING AND ARE WIDELY UNDERSTOOD, AND SUPPORTED, IN THE COMMUNITY. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON
CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS PROVIDE THAT THE EXERCISE OF THE RIGHT
TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND OF PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY MAY BE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS NECESSARY, INTER ALIA, FOR THE RESPECT AND PROTECTION
OF THE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF OTHERS. THE RESTRICTION ON THE USE OF
LOUDSPEAKERS IS IMPOSED VERY MUCH WITH THIS IN MIND AS EXCESSIVE
NOISE IN A PUBLIC PLACE MAY CREATE NUISANCE FOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
UNQUOTE.
11. NO. 3014
QUOTE
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT DOES NOT/NOT INTEND TO REPEAL THE SUMMARY OFFENCES ORDINANCE. IN HONG KONG'S HIGHLY URBANISED ENVIRONMENT, THERE IS A NEED, AS IN OTHER CITIES, TO PROVIDE CONTROLS ON NUISANCES. AS AN EXAMPLE, DURING THE PERIOD 15-21 JULY 1990 IN TWO OF THE TERRITORY'S BUSIEST URBAN POLICE DISTRICTS A TOTAL OF 82 SUMMONS APPLICATIONS WERE MADE, OF WHICH 74 WERE FOR OFFENCES UNDER THE SUMMARY OFFENCES ORDINANCE, THE MAJORITY BEING FOR OBSTRUCTION OF PAVEMENTS ETC. OTHER OFFENCES UNDER THE ORDINANCE RANGE FROM
OBSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC PLACES TO TOUTING. I WOULD REFER THE
HONOURABLE MEMBER TO MY ANSWER TO QUESTION NO. 3004 WHEN I SAID THAT ALL LEGISLATION IN HONG KONG IS CURRENTLY BEING REVIEWED TO
ENSURE CONSISTENCY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF A BILL OF RIGHTS WHICH IS
ABOUT TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. UNQUOTE.
12. NO. 3015
QUOTE
I WOULD REFER THE HONOURABLE MEMBER TO MY ANSWER TO QUESTION NO.
3004. BECAUSE PROSECUTION RECORDS IN HONG KONG ARE NOT COMPUTERISED, IT HAS NOT BEEN POSSIBLE WITHIN THE TIME AVAILABLE TO
PROVIDE DETAILS OF HOW MANY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG HAVE BEEN CHARGED
IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS WITH USING A LOUD-HAILER IN PUBLIC WITHOUT A
PERMIT. ((THE INFORMATION SOUGHT CAN ONLY BE MADE AVAILABLE BY AN
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