TNAG-2558-FCO40-3733-Hong-Kong-Bill-of-Rights-Crimes-(Amendment)-(No.-2)-Bill-199-1992 — Page 6

CONFIDENTIAL

XCC(92)39

LEGISLATIVE TIMETABLE

18

Subject to Members' approval of the introduction of this Bill into

the Legislative Council, the legislative timetable will be -

Publication in the Gazette

First Reading and commencement

of the Second Reading debate

Resumption of Second Reading debate

committee stage and Third Reading

13 March 1992

1 April 1992

to be notified

FINANCIAL AND STAFFING IMPLICATIONS

19

The proposal has no financial or staffing implications.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION

20

The LRC Report on Loitering was completed after wide consultation with professional bodies, District Boards and District Fight Crime Committees. District Boards and District Fight Crime Committees held mixed views on whether the existing section 160(1) should remain intact or not. However, the majority tended to favour retaining this provision, albeit in a suitably modified form to strike a balance between the need for crime prevention and protection of individual's rights. In view of the tight time-table for reviewing the Crimes Ordinance in the light of the BOR Ordinance, it has not been possible to carry out any consultation on the present proposal to revise section 160(1).

PUBLIC REACTION

21

Public reaction is expected to be mixed. Advocates of human rights, including some LegCo Members, some lawyers and human rights groups, would criticize the proposals for not following the LRC recommendation and in any event for not going far enough. This would probably lead to renewed calls for a review and to amend legislation that is inconsistent with the Bill of Rights.