HWB 14/34.
SAVING DESPATCH
CONFIDENTIAL
From the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs
To the Officer Administering the Government of, HONG KONG.
Date
No 141
21 February, 1968.
Saving
45
16
(27)
Your despatch No.559 of 25 November and your saving despatches Nos. 531 of 21 November and 708 of 27 December, 1967.
Public Order Ordinance
Notification of Her Majesty's non-disallowance of the above Ordinance
is being sent to you under separate cover.
2. The petition from the Reform Club of Hong Kong, together with a petition received direct from Mrs. Elsie Elliott, have been laid before Her Majesty The Queen. A copy of Mrs. Elliott's petition is enclosed.
3.
The Secretary of State's advice to Her Majesty was that the reply to both petitions should be that they have been laid before Her Majesty but that he was unable to advise Her Majesty that the petitions should be granted. This advice has been accepted and it would be appreciated if you would inform both petitioners accordingly.
4.
The Minister has also received two letters from "Justice" (the British section of the International Commission of Jurists) each enclosing a comprehensive memorandum (one of which was prepared by their Hong Kong branch) dealing with the Ordinance. Copies of these letters and memoranda are enclosed, together with a copy of the Minister's reply to "Justice". You will note from paragraph 2 of the Minister's reply that we shall be communicating with you further on this matter when we have completed a more detailed study of the memorandum prepared by the Hong Kong branch of "Justice".
LAST REF.
16
1519
1927)
CONFIDENTIAL