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The following is issued on behalf of the Appeal Board on Public Meetings and Processions:
The Appeal Board on Public Meetings and Processions (the Appeal Board) announced that an appeal lodged by the League of Social Democrats (the League) against the decision of the Commissioner of Police to object to a public procession had been dismissed by the Appeal Board.
The Appeal Board, chaired by Mr Raymond Sears and comprised three other members, met on March 7 to hear the appeal. Having considered the justifications provided by the appellant as well as the submissions and explanations by the government representatives, the Appeal Board decided to uphold the Police's original decision and dismissed the appeal.
"The Appeal Board considered that holding a procession on the route proposed at 7.30 pm was not in the public interest. It was however made clear to the appellant that a procession starting at 4 pm or 4.30 pm would be without objection," said a spokesman for the Appeal Board.
"The Appeal Board has made clear that there is no objection in principle to such a procession and that it is the citizen's right to hold one. It is the proposed starting time of procession, which is a night time, which opens to substantial objection," the spokesman added.
Constituted under section 44 of the Public Order Ordinance (Cap. 245), the Appeal Board is tasked to consider appeals against a prohibition against public meeting under section 9, an objection to public procession under section 14, or the condition imposed or amended by the Commissioner of Police under section 11 or section 15 of the Ordinance. The Appeal Board may confirm, reverse or vary the decision being appealed against.
Ends/Friday, March 9, 2007
Issued at HKT 21:08
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