香港大律師公會
就馬凱事件之聲明
香港大律師公會（「公會」）就香港特區政府（「特區政府」）上月拒絕馬凱的工作簽証續期的申請並於上星期拒絕馬凱以旅客身份入境的決定 (合稱「決定」) 表示關注。公會注意到，馬凱是一名在一所備受尊重的國際傳媒機構任職的資深記者。直至現時，特區政府沒有就有關決定作出解釋。
香港居民行使言論自由的權利是受《基本法》保障。這權利包括在不受任何公共權力機構干預的情況下接受及傳播各種消息及思想之自由。香港任何市民或機構，特別是特區政府，不論其對所表達的消息及思想是否同意，皆有責任尊重這權利。
表達言論自由的權利雖不是絕對，但作為一個尊重及保護這權利的社會，若要對此權利施加任何限制，必須是為達到或維護重大和合理的社會利益的相等回應，而該限制亦必須有清晰及令人信服的證據支持。
鑑於馬凱曾參與一個公眾論壇，公會認為無論本地或海外的公眾都有合理理由關注究竟特區政府的有關決定是否對言論自由的權利構成無理干預。
在特區政府沒有就其決定作出解釋的情況下，公眾無法釐定究竟其決定是否符合上述的要求，亦不能釋除他們的疑慮，香港作為一個以法治為依歸並保障居民基本權利的社會的聲譽亦因而受到損害。
因此，公會促請特區政府就其決定給予解釋，以便公眾評估有關決定是否建基於充分而有力的理據。特區政府並應展現其當履行保障《基本法》下所載的權利及自由的責任。
香港大律師公會
2018 年 11 月 15 日
✽ ✽ ✽
Statement of the Hong Kong Bar Association
on Victor Mallet
The Hong Kong Bar Association (“the HKBA”) expresses its concern that the Hong Kong Government last month refused the application of Mr Victor Mallet, a senior journalist with a respected international publication, to renew his work visa and more recently refused him entry into Hong Kong as a visitor (“the Decisions”). The Government has refused to explain the reasons for the Decisions.
The right to freedom of expression is enshrined in the Basic Law. It includes the freedom to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authorities. Everyone, in particular the Government, has an obligation to respect such freedom whether one agrees with the information or ideas or not.
Whilst the right to freedom of expression is not absolute, any restriction on its exercise in a society which respects and protects such a right must be a proportionate response with the aim of upholding a legitimate societal interest and backed by cogent and persuasive evidence.
In the light of Mr Mallet’s recent involvement in a public lecture, the HKBA considers that the public, both domestically and internationally, is justifiably concerned whether the Decisions constitute undue interferences with the right to freedom of expression.
Without any reasons being given by the Government, the public is in no position to judge whether the Decisions are proportionate responses to protect a legitimate societal interest as aforesaid and thereby have its concerns removed. Hong Kong’s reputation as a society which is governed by the rule of law and is protective of the fundamental rights of its residents is being damaged.
The HKBA therefore calls upon the Government to explain the Decisions so that the public can see if good reasons exist for them. The Government should demonstrate that it will fulfil its duty to safeguard all the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Basic Law.
Dated: 15 November 2018
原文連結
from 港文集 http://hktext.blogspot.com/2018/11/801.html
