CR 4/2/44
Mr. R. McC. Samb
24
Private Secretary to the secretary of State
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Hong Kong Copyright Legislation
Mr. W. T. Wells, Q.C., M.P., wrote to the Secretary
of State on 10 May to say that he would shortly be
visiting Hong Kong for the purpose of litigation brought by Rediffusion (Hong Kong) Limited against
the Hong Kong Government and its Legislative Council
in connection with proposed amendments to the Copyright
Law of Hong Kong. Lord Shepherd replied to this letter
on 17 May.
2.
Mr. Wells has now written again to the Secretary
of State to say that he has returned from Hong Kong
and that the defendants succeeded in one of the two
procedural summons that they took out. We have consulted
the Deputy Legal Adviser (Mr. Oxley) and he considers
that Mr. Wells' meaning is far from clear. There is no
indication as to which of the procedural summons
succeeded. However, the Assistant to the Hong Kong Law
Officers is now on his way to London and we shall be
having a meeting with him on 25 June. No doubt this
will clarify the position.
Recommendation
3. Since this matter is sub judice pending leave to
appeal to the Privy Council being granted, I recommend
that only a brief acknowledgement in terms of the attached draft (with which Hr. Oxley agrees) be sent by the
Secretary of State.
/4. The