TNAG-2220-FCO40-3188-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Public-Order-Ordinance-1991 — Page 33

S/N Item

1. Public meetings

in the open

2. Public meetings

in private premises

3. Public

processions

4. Notification of

public meetings/ processions

5. Prohibition and

time limit (public meetings/ processions)

Summary of the Existing Provisions and

the Proposed Changes to Part III of the Public Order Ordinance, Cap 245

Present Law

A meeting of more than 30 persons has to be notified to CP.

(Section 7 (2) (a))

A meeting of more than 200 persons, or exceeding the capacity of the premises, has to be notified to CP.

(Section 7(2) (b))

Processions of more than 20 persons have to be licensed.

(Sections 13(1)(a) and 13(2)(b)}

Notification of a public meeting has to be sent to CP not less than seven days (excluding Sundays and general holidays) in advance. Licence for a public procession has to be applied for seven days in advance.

CP can prohibit a notified meeting within 4 days

(excluding Sundays and general holidays) after notification of meeting; or up to 24 hours before a meeting for which less than 7 days' notice is accepted.

(Section 9)

CP can cancel at any time the licence for a public procession on certain grounds.

(Section 14)

Proposed Changes

Annex B

The 30-person threshold raised to 50 persons.

Meetings of not more than 500 persons need not be notified to CP.

A notification system to replace the licensing system; processions of not more than 30 persons need not be notified.

Both public meetings and public processions will be subject to a unified notification system under which notice has to be submitted to the Police on the same day of the week in the preceding week as the day of the event itself.

CP may prohibit the holding of a notified meeting/procession only up to 48 hours before the event, on the grounds of public safety, public order, the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others,