legal formalities for entry or had stayed beyond the period permitted by their Applications for review of an expulsion order could be made to the visas. authority issuing the order, and appeals could be made to a higher authority. Both applications had suspensive effect, and the remedy of meas coroua was also available. Expulsions on the grounds of public health were rare and the remedy of moaro was available. Riaht to nrivacy 444.'Conceraing that issue, members of the Committee wished to know whether the tapping of private telephone lines had been prompted by security considerations. 445. In reply, the representative carry out wire-tapping operations _F_LtaaQrn . . anzltement said that the police could in criminal investigations. of reliaion and exoressionr Rr-ohibition of orouaaanda to nntional. racial or reliaious hatsgdi be authorixed for war to and of 44G. In connection with those issues, members of the Committee wished to know what procedures existed for legal recognition and authorisation of vario,& religious denominations; whether article 25 of the Constitution, which provided for freedom of worship subject to respect for Christian morality and public order, affected such recognition, especially as regards non-Christian religions; in what respect, if any, the Roman Catholic Church enjoyed privileged treatment as compared with other churches or religious groups: what was the practice in respect of censorship in Panama; how effective legal guarantees were relating to freadom of expression, particularly political dissent; what had been the outcome of studies undertaken by the National Advisory Commission to review regulations governing the mass media: whetber any regulations had been adopted on the basis of the Commission’s report) and whether State funding was ever withheld from universities in order to secure the employment or dismissal of certain persons. 447. In reply, the representative said that the legislation on freedom of expression was currently under review and that those media that had been closed down or confiscated had been reopened and restored to their rightful owners. It was not necessary to be a member of the National College of Journalists in order to exercise the profession of journalism, which was open The bill that was to be submitted to the Assembly, on the basis of to all. the conclusions of the National Advisory Commission established to review the regulations governing the mass media, had already been subject to a wideranging national debate. Freedom of uembly V . . 448. With regard to that issue, members of the Committee requested information concerning the law and practice relating .to the establishment and functioning of political parties and trade unions; on any relevant restrictions: and on the law and practice relating to the State’s involvement in financing political parties pursuant to article 135 of the Constitution. They also wished to know whether any political parties had been banned since the consideration of the initial report and how equality of treatment of the various political parties was ensured. In addition, members wished to know