************************************************************
Police respect the ruling to modify the conditions in the Letter of No Objection made by the Appeal Board on Public Meetings and Processions today (June 28) regarding a public meeting cum procession to be organised on July 1.
A Police spokesman said, "We welcome the Board¡¦s finding that the organiser of the public meeting and procession has the responsibility to assist the Police to ensure public order and public safety of the event. We will continue to maintain close liaison with the organiser and hope it will try its best to assist us in managing the event.¡¨
He pointed out that the two conditions are not new conditions set this year. The organiser held similar activities in the past three years and the same conditions were included in the Letters of No Objection issued to the same organiser. As regards the condition on the dispersal of participants upon arriving at the designated area of Central Government Offices (CGO) Compound, it has in fact been an effective measure in dispersing the participants entering and leaving CGO Compound.
The spokesman said, "The Force respects the rights of the public to peaceful assemblies and processions and to express their views. In facilitating the expression of views by the participants of the processions, we are also duty bound by law to maintain public order. For the sake of public safety and safeguarding the rights of other people to use public place and roads, it is necessary to impose certain restrictions and conditions on public assemblies and processions.
"It can also facilitate the organiser to perform its role by implementing necessary arrangements in the course of the event which would help the participants to complete the procession in a safe and orderly manner, and at the same time minimise the inconvenience caused to other people."
Police have been handling each application of public order event in an impartial manner and endeavour to assist in the events and make appropriate arrangements and deployment.
"This public order event is no exception to us. We will keep an open mind and continue to work closely with the organiser. We will balance the needs of different sectors of the community and facilitate the event under the principle of public safety and public order," the spokesman stressed.
Police Report No. 23
Issued by PPRB
Ends/Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Issued at HKT 21:07
NNNN
