CYPHER/CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
26
IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TO HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 769
TAST
PE.
ور
14 OCTOBER 1976
(HK)
CONFIDENTIAL 1417257.
YOUR TELNO 664 TRADE UNION REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL.
LEGAL ADVISERS HAVE BEEN EXAMINING FURTHER CLAUSE 12(C) AS REDRAFTED AND WE THOUGHT WE SHOULD LET YOU HAVE THEIR VIEWS TO REACH YOU, IF POSSIBLE, IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD.
2. IT IS NOW THOUGHT THAT CATEGORY OF OFFENCES QUOTE AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER UNQUOTE IS TOO ILL-DEFINED AND COVERS TOO BROAD A RANGE OF OFFENCES, SOME OFFENCES INCLUDED IN THAT CATEGORY UNDER PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE, PART IV, ARE THEMSELVES SO WIDE THAT THE CLAUSE WOULD AFFECT MORE OFFENDERS THAN CAN, THEY SUGGEST, BE INTENDED. DELETION OF THE WORDS QUOTE OR AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER UNQUOTE WOULD REMOVE THIS DIFFICULTY.
3. WE SHALL TELEGRAPH FURTHER ABOUT OTHER LESS IMPORTANT POINTS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED.
DOUGLAS-HOME
FILES:
H.K.D. O.L.A.
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION: U.N.D. (4)
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CONFIDENTIAL