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4. Imposition of conditions by the Commissioner of Police

 

Under the Public Order Ordinance, all public meetings not prohibited and public processions not objected to must meet the following statutory conditions:

 

  • the organiser of the procession shall be present throughout the procession;
  • good order and public safety is maintained; and
  • the control of any amplification device to be surrendered to a police officer if it causes a noise that would not be tolerated by a reasonable person.

The Commissioner of Police may not prohibit a public meeting or object to a public procession if the concerns about national security, public safety, public order or protection of the rights and freedom of others may be addressed by imposition of conditions.

 

Any conditions imposed must be given in writing and be reasonably necessary to address the concern of national security or public safety, public order or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others. The Commissioner of Police must provide reasons why the conditions imposed are necessary.

 

“Reasonably necessary” means (i) the conditions pursue a legitimate aim of protecting national security, public safety, public order, or the rights and freedoms of others; (ii) the conditions imposed are rationally connected with pursuing those legitimate aims; (iii) the conditions imposed must be no more than necessary for achieving that purpose; and (iv) the conditions imposed must strike a reasonable balance between the societal benefits of the encroachment of freedom of assembly, procession and demonstration, and the inroads made into these constitutionally protected rights. The pursuit of the societal interest should not result in an unacceptably harsh burden on the individual.