The Public Order Ordinance has been effective in enabling Police to take reasonable and appropriate measures when discharging their duties, facilitating peaceful conduct at lawful assemblies, processions and demonstrations, and the Government has no plans to amend the law.

This was the message from Secretary for Security TK Lai to lawmakers today, on the arrest of a woman who took part in a protest on July 1, 2011. He said Hong Kong residents enjoy the rights of assembly, procession and demonstration according to the Basic Law and other laws, and Police handle public meetings, processions and demonstration activities in a fair, just and impartial manner in accordance with these laws.

"The enforcement policy of the Police is to endeavour to strike a balance by facilitating all lawful and peaceful public meetings, demonstrations and processions on the one hand, and on the other hand, reducing the impact of such activities on other members of the public or road users, thereby ensuring public order and public safety."

Mr Lai said participants in public meetings, demonstrations or processions should express their views in a peaceful and orderly manner.

"Participants of public processions and demonstrations should not engage in any behaviour to the detriment of public order or any act of violence," he said.

Public order laws exist in other international cities as well, he noted, and Police must take decisive action in the event that peace and public order are jeopardised.

"Such laws are particularly important to densely populated cities like Hong Kong, with the objective of maintaining an appropriate balance between the protection of personal freedom of expressions and the rights of peaceful assembly, and upholding social order and the overall interests of the community."