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on the Island and one in Kowloon, to be set up on the lines of 'Speaker's Corner' in London's Hyde Park with Speaker's podiums supplied to enable anyone who wants to make a political speech to do so. Could the relevant Select Committee work out the details?
MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):—This question asks if it would not be a good idea for the Council to set aside areas in two of the Council's parks to be set up on the lines of the 'Speaker's Corner' in London's Hyde Park, to enable anyone who wants to do so, to make political and other speeches. The question also asks if the relevant Select Committee can work out the details of this proposal.
It is not for me to say whether or not this is a good idea. However, I can point out that meetings of the nature that might be generated by such an arrangement may well become meetings as defined in the Public Order Ordinance. Such meetings may only be held if the Commissioner of Police is informed beforehand; the Commissioner of Police also has the power to prohibit such meetings.
Before the matter is therefore brought before the Recreation Select Committee to consider the details of such a proposal, I propose to have this suggestion referred to the Commissioner of Police for his comments.
Members may wish to know that since 1979 six of the Council's recreation facilities have been declared as Designated Public Areas for the purpose of holding meetings under the Public Order Ordinance.
MR. SULKE (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to see that the Council considers politics to be recreation. Don't you think that the Police will require some details and shouldn't these be worked out first before we go to them? It is also quite possible that the rest of the Councillors might not agree with my suggestions, so shouldn't we ask the rest of the Council before we go to the Police?
MR. KENNETH Lo (in English):—Mr. Chairman, on the first part of Mr. SULKE'S supplementary, I do not think the Council considers politics with recreation, it is just that the grounds to be used are recreational facilities. On the second part of Mr. SULKE's supplementary, I think the first thing to do is to ask the Commissioner of Police his views on the proposals to set-up areas in which people can come along and spontaneously speak to any member of the public who is happy to be there. After considering these views, the Council should then decide whether to proceed or not.
MR. C. Y. LEE (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, Mr. Lo said that there are six venues which have been declared as Designated Public Areas, where exactly are they? If certain prospective district board members want to use these places for their own campaigns, who do they have to ask?
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MR. KENNETH Lo (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I know the Victoria Park is one of the six Designated Public Areas, I do not know off hand the other five. As for public meetings in connection with district board elections, we have a total of nearly 50 places which are to be set aside for them to hold such meetings.
MR. BERNACCHI (in English):—Mr. Chairman, as the control by the Commissioner of Police is inconsistent with anyone saying anything he wants to in or to the public, rather than asking the Commissioner of Police, will the Chairman of the Recreation Select Committee inquire from the Government how far it really wants to take the new move towards democracy?
CHAIRMAN (in English):—Mr. Kenneth Lo, it is a little out of order, but answer if you wish.
MR. KENNETH Lo (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I do not see how I can proceed or the Recreation Select Committee can proceed other than by asking the Commissioner of Police. If we think it is a good thing to set up such facilities in our parks, then the Commissioner of Police is the one who has to say yes or no, if the Government wants to take it up, it is fairly good.
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in English):—Mr. Chairman, some years ago, the Commissioner of Police and the Recreation Select Committee on behalf of the Urban Council had come to an arrangement about these five areas, and the application and procedures were agreed and I think perhaps can the Chairman direct the Secretary to find that particular paper and circulate among members to refresh the memory?
MR. KENNETH Lo (in English):—Mr. Chairman, certainly what the present arrangement is will be considered in the light of the Commissioner's reply, but I think there is no point in studying that first, because that is the existing procedure.
MRS. MARGARET LI (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, ever since 1979, we have had these Designated Public Areas, now can the Recreation Select Committee look into whether these five venues are in fact the best ones and whether we should have additional Designated Public Areas?
MR. KENNETH Lo (in English):—I think perhaps it will be best to consider that in the light of the whole question rather than separately before we get the Commissioner's reply.
MR. LAWRENCE FUNG (in English):—Mr. Chairman, the ultimate authority in allowing certain activities to take place or not in a playground or recreational ground is the Recreation Select Committee, so rather than to pass the buck to
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on the Island and one in Kowloon, to be set up on the lines of 'Speaker's Corner' in London's Hyde Park with Speaker's podiums supplied to enable anyone who wants to make a political speech to do so. Could the relevant Select Committee work out the details?
MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):—This question asks if it would not be a good idea for the Council to set aside areas in two of the Council's parks to be set up on the lines of the 'Speaker's Corner' in London's Hyde Park, to enable anyone who wants to do so, to make political and other speeches. The question also asks if the relevant Select Committee can work out the details of this proposal.
It is not for me to say whether or not this is a good idea. However, I can point out that meetings of the nature that might be generated by such an arrangement may well become meetings as defined in the Public Order Ordinance. Such meetings may only be held if the Commissioner of Police is informed beforehand; the Commissioner of Police also has the power to prohibit such meetings.
Before the matter is therefore brought before the Recreation Select Committee to consider the details of such a proposal, I propose to have this suggestion referred to the Commissioner of Police for his comments.
Members may wish to know that since 1979 six of the Council's recreation facilities have been declared as Designated Public Areas for the purpose of holding meetings under the Public Order Ordinance.
MR. SULKE (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to see that the Council considers politics to be recreation. Don't you think that the Police will require some details and shouldn't these be worked out first before we go to them? It is also quite possible that the rest of the Councillors might not agree with my suggestions, so shouldn't we ask the rest of the Council before we go to the Police?
MR. KENNETH Lo (in English):----Mr. Chairman, on the first part of Mr. SULKE'S supplementary, I do not think the Council considers politics with recreation, it is just that the grounds to be used are recreational facilities. On the second part of Mr. SULKE's supplementary, I think the first thing to do is to ask the Commissioner of Police his views on the proposals to set-up areas in which people can come along and spontaneously to speak to any member of the public who is happy to be there. After considering these views, the Council should then decide whether to proceed or not.
MR. C. Y. LEE (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, Mr. Lo said that there are six venues which have been declared as Designated Public Areas, where exactly are they? If certain prospective district board members want to use these places for their own campaigns, who do they have to ask?
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MR. KENNETH Lo (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I know the Victoria Park is one of the six Designated Public Areas, I do not know off hand the other five. As for public meetings in connection with district board elections, we have a total of nearly 50 places which are to be set aside for them to hold such meetings.
MR. BERNACCHI (in English):—Mr. Chairman, as the control by the Commis- sioner of Police is inconsistent with anyone saying anything he wants to in or to the public, rather than asking the Commissioner of Police, will the Chairman of the Recreation Select Committee inquire from the Government how far it really wants to take the new move towards democracy?
CHAIRMAN (in English):—Mr. Kenneth Lo, it is little out of order, but answer if you wish.
you
could
MR. KENNETH Lo (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I do not see how I can procced or the Recreation Select Committee can proceed other than by asking the Commissioner of Police. If we think it is a good thing to set up such facilities in our parks, then the Commissioner of Police is the one who has to say yes or no, if the Government wants to take it up, it is fairly good.
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in English):—Mr. Chairman, some years ago, the Commissioner of Police and the Recreation Select Committee on behalf of the Urban Council had come to the arrangement about these five areas, and the application and procedures were agreed and I think perhaps can the Chairman direct the Secretary to find that particular paper and circulate among members to refresh the memory?
MR. KENNETH Lo (in English):-Mr. Chairman, certainly what is the present arrangement will be considered in the light of the Commissioner's reply, but I think there is no point in studying that first, because that is the existing procedure.
MRS. MARGARET LI (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, ever since 1979, we have had these Designated Public Areas, now can the Recreation Select Committee look into whether these five venues are in fact the best ones and whether we should have additional Designated Public Areas?
MR. KENNETH Lo (in English):—I think perhaps it will be best to consider that in the light of the whole question rather than separately before we get the Commisioner's reply.
MR. LAWRENCE FUNG (in English):-Mr. Chairman, the ultimate authority in allowing certain activities to take place or not in a playground or recreational ground is the Recreation Select committee, so rather than to pass the buck to
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