bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

SCMP Reporter

Legal advice is being sought on whether public passageways under private management can accommodate non-profit-making activities such as displays and exhibitions, the development chief said yesterday.
The comment came after the government advised property developers and owners not to allow any exhibitions or activities to be held in such areas unless  such uses were specified in the deeds.
Secretary for Development Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor  told the Legislative Council some public passageways were wide enough for non-profit activities to be held.
'It may not be of the public and economic interest to only allow pedestrian flow in these passages,'  Mrs Lam said.
'Perhaps some reasonable activities - such as community arts programmes or exhibitions - should also be permitted.'
Mrs Lam said such considerations would be included in the review with the aim of improving the quality and standard of public open space and facilities.
'If the government decides that some public passages are suitable for accommodating these activities, we will propose it to the developers,' she said. 'And we will also make sure that the developers will make such information clear and accessible to the public.'
Artists and critics recently  complained that the government had gone from one extreme to another in the face of the outcry over access to privately managed public open areas after Times Square was discovered to have rented out parts of its piazza and had forbidden people to sit or stay there.
Mrs Lam said the Secretary for Justice was following the Times Square case, and she refused to  comment further.
With more concern groups choosing public open spaces under private ownership as venues for activities, Mrs Lam said owners could decide whether to permit  groups or individuals to organise activities or display banners.



US threatens sanctions: what Hong Kong can expect after the jailing of 45 activists

Hong Kong 47: sentencing hearing for 45 activists set for November 19

Hong Kong’s Carrie Lam asked to relocate from expensive office when lease ends in 2025

Hong Kong’s Carrie Lam slams ‘hegemonic’ US bill aimed at closing trade offices

Carrie Lam

Legal advice sought to determine use of public  passageways