hkrs163-1-2395-emergency-legislation — Page 24

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anywhere in the Colony, such aircraft shall be detained -

(a) in the case of the landing taking place at Hong Kong Airport,

by the Senior Civil Aviation Department Officer on duty at

the Airport;

(b) in the case of the landing taking place at any place in the

Colony other than Hong Kong Airport, the first gazetted

officer of the Hong Kong Police Force to arrive on the scene.

Dated

196

Governor.

PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE.

(Chapter 245).

Detention of Persons on Military Aircraft Order 1968.

WilEREAS an order has been given for the detention of certain

military aircraft in the event of their landing in the Colony:

AND WHEREAS I am satisfied that it is necessary in the interests

of public order to give this order:

NOW THEREFORE I, David Clive Crosbie Trench, Knight Commander

of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George,

upon whom has been conferred the Decoration of the Military Cross,

Governor and Commander in Chief of the Colony and its Dependencies, and

Vice-Admiral of the Same, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by

section 35 of the Public Order Ordinance hereby order that in the

event of any naval, military or air force aircraft belonging to the

Chinese People's Government or to the Government in Formosa landing

anywhere in the Colony, any of the persons on board such aircraft

shall be detained for so long as the detention of any such person may

be necessary to ensure the detention of such aircraft

-

(a) in the case of the landing taking place at Hong Kong

Airport, by the senior Civil Aviation Department Officer

on duty at the Airport;

(b)

in the case of the landing taking place at any place in the

Colony other than Hong Kong Airport, the first gazetted

officer of the Hong Kong Police Force to arrive on the scene,

Governor.

1968.

Dated

G.F. 73C 0000733

From

CONFIDENTIAL

Attorney General's Chambers

Ref. 28 in AGO. 12/3/1250/67

Tel. No.

Date

95265

26th April, 1968

MEMO

To

Defence Secretary

Commissioner of Police

Your Ref

in

dated

Review of Emergency Legislation

I do not think that a Progress Report for this month is called for from
my Committee as the most recent decisions are still being implemented.
However, I think the Committee should now consider what recommendation
to make with respect to four of the remaining Emergency Regulations. The
Defence Secretary may wish to take note that the Committee is giving its
attention to these four Regulations, which are

2.

(a) Emergency (Legal Aid in Criminal Cases) (District Court)

Regulations 1967 ;

(b) Emergency (Fireworks) Regulations 1967 ;

(c) Emergency (Principal) Regulation 119D (the offence of being in

possession of a simulated bomb);

(d) Emergency (Principal) Regulation 96 (imposing on members of the

public an obligation, with a criminal sanctim, to identify themselves

on demand to any Police officer or member of the Armed Forces),

(a) above is the obvious consequential repeal once the jurisdiction of
the District Court reverts to five years. The only point to note here is
that the very act of repealing this Regulation may give rise to renewed
demands for legal aid to be made available in all District Court
criminal

cases.

asmendment

b berin

3.

The Commissioner of Mines informed me in February that he would like to
review the situation with regard to the Fireworks Regulations at the
beginning of April, by when he expected that nearly all the compensation
due under the Regulations would have been paid. By copy of this
Memorandum I am requesting that he now inform the Committee

what stage has been
reached and whether these Regulations have now served their purpose
fully.

CONFIDENTIAL

-/2.

4.

2.

With regard to (c) (on page 1 of this Memorandum) I would like the
Police representative on the Committee to advise whether the Regulation
which was introduced to deal with simulated bombs is still required. One
point to bear in mind here is that a simulated bomb was defined in very
wide terms as being anything which if found in public might give rise to
the reasonable apprehension that it was a

bomb.

This was a test which made sense, and could be applied in the days when
any abandoned box or tin could and did give rise to such apprehensions.
If such simulated bombs are no longer prevalent it may be difficult to
justify the retention of a criminal regulation in such sweeping terms. I
would not, of course, advocate revocation as such, but rather an Order
which would have the effect of making this Regulation no longer in force
but available for re-introduction by a simple Order on the part of the
Governor.

5.

With regard to (d) (on page 1 of this Memorandum) the direction of the
Governor's Committee was that consideration should be given to seeing
whether the substance of this Regulation could be

I think retained in permanent legislation on a more acceptable basis.
this is a matter which can be profitably discussed by the Committee. I
shall be grateful, therefore, if the other two members can indicate when
it would suit them to meet for this purpose,

Gorlar Sweath.

(G.R. Sneath)

Solicitor General

c.c. Commissioner of Mines

GRS/mej:

FANFARENTIAL

REGISTRY

v13052

VATE 2.7-4-68

INWARD LETTER

G.F. 73C 0000733

CONFIDENTIAL

MEMO

Commissioner of Mines

To

From..

(138)

FIR/CON/ENG

Ref....

in.

846161

Tel. No.

2nd May 1968

Date

Honourable Attorney General

(28)

AGO. 12/3/1250/67

Your Ref

in

26th April 1968

dated

Review of Emergency Legislation

With reference to your paragraph 3, I have to advise that compensation
payable under the "mergency (Firework) Regulations hes still not been
fully paid out and it may yet be several months before payments are
complete and the Regulations can be said to have served their purpose
fully. In the circumstances I should like to review the situation
further in three months time.

2. Once the Emergency (Firework) Regulations have served their purpose
in relation to compensation requirements I do not consider they should
be revoked until action has been taken to delete or rendor inoperative
the proviso to regulation 10(5) of the Dangerous Goods (General)
Regulations CAP 295. I shall shortly be making proposals to the
Honourable Colonial Secretary in connection with future control over
explosives which, if accepted, will enable me to deal with the matter of
general amendments to the Dangerous Goods legislation.

Кан

(J. 4. Knapp)

for Commissioner of Mines

copies to ✓Defence Secretary

Commissioner of Polios

JHK RW

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

DAIE

3248.

4/5768. INWARD LE!

t

(204

!

G.F. 73C 0000793

From

Ref. (42) in

CONFIDENTIAL

Commissioner of Police

CID/CON/15/4 (T.S.)

234011 Ext.259

Tel. No.

Date

23rd May, 1968

MEMO

To Hon. Attorney General

Your Ref (28) in AGO. 12/3/1250/67

26.4.1968.

dated

Review of Emergency Legislations

Please refer to your above quoted memorandum to the Defence Secretary
and copied to me.

2.

I have no comments on para.l (a) thereof. As regards Para.1 (b), (c),
and (d) I consider the situation in the Colony continues to warrant
their retention either in their present form or as permanent legislation
on a more acceptable basis.

3.

I am ready to attend a meeting at your convenience.

FASCICNTIAL

REGISTRY

x3850 DATE 24.548

INWARD

LETTER

c.c. Defence Secretary -

CYST/jw

Commissioner of Mine s

D.S.B. (Ref. (40) in GEN 13/1702)

("C.Y EZE-TO)

for Commissioner of Police

CONFIDENTIAL

bos

ACE PRCII

" ID

143

J

1200.

24

T

448. Review of Emergency

Legislation

319/68

H.E. agreed that S.G.'s progress report could now be given quarterly.

Action .G.

Aosi

G.F. 73C 0000733

My

CONFIDENTIAL 6/3231/59

From

Attorney General's Chambers

Ref.

(34)

in

AGO 12/3/1250/67

Tel. No.

95265

Date

19th June, 1968.

(2

MEMO

Commissioner of Police

To

c.c.

Your Ref

dated

(Attn: Mr. C.Y. SZE-TO)

2.3

(Attn: M11PA)

Defence Secretary (Attn: 11) in CID/CON/15/4 (T.8.)

Review of Emergency Legislation

This memorandum is to record the result of our meeting this

morning. It was noted first that the new instruction of the Governor'

Committee is that we should report every three months. This means that
the next report should go in towards the end of July.

2.

It was noted that the Commissioner of Mines stated early in

May that he would wish to review the position about the Firework

Regulations in July.

3.

It was reported that simulated bombs and inflammatory posters

still make occasional appearances. The Regulations dealing with these

are therefore still required. It was also agreed that the Regulations

dealing with inflammatory speeches must remain in force for the time

being.

4.

Mr.

There was further discussion about Regulation 96, which imposes on
members of the public the obligation to identify themselves on demand to
Police officers or members of the Armed Forces, SZE-TO undertook to
ascertain whether it would be acceptable if this

If this is acceptable
power were limited to Inspector, and above,

it could go into the law in permanent form.,

5.

A number of Bills have been drafted for the purpose of transferring
Emergency Regulations to permanent legislation. I have asked the
Draftsman to press for the early introduction of those Bills which are
complete. The object of this is to show the public that the
consideration of the Emergency legislation is a continuing process, and
that our permanent legislation is being revised in order to provide the
necessary powers to meet disturbance situations.

GRS/moj:

Chulah Sneath.

(G.R. Sneath)

Solicitor General

CONFIDENTIAL

4706

1820:6:68

(AL_REGISTRY

INWARD LEFTER

!

G. F. 73C

0000733

From

Ref.

(53)

Tel. No.

Date

CONFIDENTIAL

Commissioner of Police

CID/CON/15/4 (TS)

MEMO

in

234011 Ext.259

24th June, 1968

To

I 41231159

Hon. A.G.

Your Ref(34)

in

AGO 12/3/1250/67

19.6.1968.

dated

Эг

Review of Emergency Legislation

I agree to E(P)R 96 being incorporated into some permanent legislation
though I am opposed to restricting the application of its power to
Inspector and above.

2.

There may be occasions when Inspectorate officers are not present. In
the circumstances everyone so stopped would have to be taken to a police
station or be detained until a police Inspector could be found. There
are already similar powers under Sec.54 of Cap. 232 and I can see no
objection against the present power under E(P)R 96. In fact as it stands
now it is more convenient for the public than it would be if restricted
as suggested.

3.

I am therefore of the opinion that if E(P)R 96 is to go into law in
permanent form it should do so as it stands at present.

(C.Y. SZRTP)

for Commissioner &T Police

c.c. Defence Secretary (Attn: Mr. B.V. Williams) -

Circulation

CYST/jw

CONFIDENTIAL

SUNDIDENTIAL

NO..

REGISTRY

4879

DATE 25/6/48

INWARD

G.F. 73C 0000733

From

CONFIDENTIAL

Attorney General's Chambers

Ref. (39) in AGC 12/3/1250/67

MEMO

To

Hon. Colonial Secretary

(Attn: Mr. B.V. Williams)

Tel. No.

95265

Date

28th August, 1968.

Your Ref

in

dated

Review of Emergency Legislation

I enclose herewith a draft report. This should have gone forward at the
end of July.

2.

3.

I have one or two comments.

(a) As you will see,

I express the hope that on the next review in three months' time it will
be possible to recommend that the Emergency (Prevention of Inflammatory
Speeches) Regulations and regulation 119D of the Emergency (Principal)
Regulations should cease to be in operation. I believe this to be the

case, and I hope that you will be able to agree that we should make this
forecast, which is not, of course, binding.

I am

particularly concerned about regulation 119D.

(b) I consider that regulation 96 of the Emergency (Principal)

Regulations is not suitable for inclusion in the permanent law.

This brings us face to face again with the question whether

it is to remain in force as an emergency regulation. I feel strongly
that it cannot and the draft report reflects my views.

The delay in submitting the report is entirely my responsibility and
I want it to go forward as soon as possible now.

I shall, therefore,

be very grateful for such urgent attention as you can give to the
matter.

Encl:

Commissioner of Police

(Mr. C.Y. SZE-TO)

Jo Mobley

(J.W.D. Hobley)

Acting Solicitor General

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

REGISTRY

46544

24/8/68 INWARD LETTER

1

CONFIDENTIAL

DRAFT

Review of Emergency Legislation

Progress Report

-

August 1968

In June, the Governor directed that the

Solicitor General's Committee should report once a

quarter.

Accordingly, a further report was due at

the end of July. I regret the delay in submitting

this report.

Progress on implementation of decisions already

taken.

2.

With respect to those items of emergency

legislation on which decisions have already been

taken, we record that the necessary action is

proceeding in all those cases where the decisions

have not already been implemented. Implementation

of a number of the outstanding decisions involves

amendment of the Public Order Ordinance. The

necessary legislation was well advanced, but a

recent examination of the matter has led to a

decision that it would not be wise to introduce

legislation to amend the Public Order Ordinance

for this purpose without concurrently introducing

at least some of the amendments which have been

proposed to meet the criticism levelled at the

Ordinance after its enactment in 1967. The

- 2 -

2. (contd)

intention now is to introduce, at the same time as

the amendments which are necessary in connection

with the review of emergency legislation, such of

the other amendments as are already agreed. The

necessary bill is now being prepared.

Emergency (Prevention

of Inflammatory Speeches)

Regulations.

Emergency (Prevention

of Inflammatory Posters)

Regulations.

Regulation 119D of Emergency (Principal) Regulatins.

3.

(a)

We recommend that

the Emergency (Prevention of Inflammatory

Speeches) Regulations ;

(b) the Emergency (Prevention of Inflammatory

Posters) Regulations; and

(c) regulation 119D of the Emergency (Principal)

Regulations (which deals with possession of

simulated bombs),

should remain in force for a further three months.

4.

We hope that towards the end of the year it

will be possible to recommend the revocation of the

Emergency (Prevention of Inflammatory Speeches)

Regulations, since the conduct at which these

Regulations are aimed is no longer prevalent prevalent

alternative, consideration might be given to the

As an

-/3.

- 3 -

mite

give lise to resouble

apprehensum As time goes it, this gets difficult to prove.

4. (contd)

addition to the Regulations of a provision enabling

the Governor to discontinue their operation in the

same way as he may discontinue the operation of

Emergency (Principal) Regulations under the new

regulation 137 (5). The Regulations could then

be brought into force again at very short notice if

necessary.

5.

ssary.]

We also hope that it will then he possible

to recommend that the operation of regulation 119D

of the Emergency (Principal) Regulations be discontinued.

This regulation was meaningful and necessary when it

was introduced, but it was necessarily cast in wide

terms. So much so that it cannot be allowed to

remain in force much longer in the absence of any

real problem posed by simulated bombs. It is a

prime example of the sort of loosely drafted law

which will be accepted in the face of an emergency 、

but which becomes a target for severe (and justified)

criticism once the situation which led to its

introduction has passed or ceased to be a substantial

threat.

-/4...

Emergency (Legal Aid in Criminal Cases) (District Court)

Regulations.

6.

Regulation 136A of the Emergency (Principal)

Regulations, which increased to ten years the maximum

sentence which might be imposed by the District Court

for certain offences, ceased to be in force on 24th

May, 1968.

Consequently, the Emergency (Legal Aid in

Criminal Cases) (District Court) Regulations, which

provided for the grant of legal aid where a person

was charged before the District Court with one of the

offences for which he was liable to imprisonment for

more than five years, ought now to be revoked as they

have ceased to have any effect.

Emergency (Firework) Regulations.

7.

We are advised that the payment of

S

compensation for firework of which possession was

taken under the Emergency (Firework) Regulations is

still proceeding. However, the Commissioner of Mines

has recently announced that he proposes to recommend

that further claims for compensation should not be

entertained after 31st December, 1968. Viewed from

this aspect, the Emergency (Firework) Regulations cannot

be revoked until all outstanding claims made before

that date are settled.

-/5.

- 5 -

8.

There is, however, another aspect.

It is by

virtue of regulation 7 (1) of the Emergency (Firework)

Regulations that the exemption under the Dangerous Goods

(General) Regulations, permitting the storage without

licence of up to 50 pounds of manufactured fireworks, is

temporarily suspended. The Government has recently

announced that the ban on the discharge of fireworks

will not be relaxed for the Lunar New Year in 1969.

shing then

Control of the discharge of fireworks is, of course,

of

Regulation 59 $7 the Dangerous Goods

exercised under section

(General) Regulations,

of the Summary Offences

Ordinance, a provision which is not affected by the

Emergency (Firework) Regulations, but if, as appears

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