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Mr Murray
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MPS' LETTERS: HONG KONG PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE
PROBLEM
RECEIVE
IDEX
H
36012
NO. 51
ра
No Anders H
1. To reply to letters from Lord Brockway and Mr James Johnson MP
(Labour - Kingston-upon-Hull W) seeking comments on material sent
by Mrs Elsie Elliott CBE, an elected Urban Councillor in Hong Kong.
Mrs Elliott is concerned about the powers of the police under the
Public Order Ordinance, and is critical of various police actions.
RECOMMENDATION
2. I recommend that Mr Blaker should reply to Lord Brockway and
Mr Johnson on the lines of the attached drafts.
BACKGROUND AND ARGUMENT
3. Mr Johnson wrote to the Secretary of State on 14 June
enclosing a copy of a circular letter from Mrs Elliott. Mr Blaker
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sent an interim reply on 21 June. The Hong Kong Government have
Flag E been asked for a report on the incidents referred to in Mrs Elliott's (with 91
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letter but we have not yet received it.
4.
In the meantime, Mrs Elliott has sent a further memorandum and
a press cutting to Mr Johnson and has copied these, as well as her
original letter, to Lord Brockway. We have asked the Hong Kong
Attorney-General for his comments. However, as the Secretary of
State told the House of Lords in a written answer on 24 May, the
provisions of the Public Order Ordinance relating to public
meetings and processions are currently under review.
Rulangh
R JT McLaren
Hong Kong and General Department
13 July 1979
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PARB. 14/7.
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