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CONFIDENTIAL
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CONFIDENTIAL
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Para(s)
FM HONG KONG 260943Z FEB 82
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 196 OF 26 FEBRUARY
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
@
YOUR TELEGRAM 128: PQ'S MR ROBERT PARRY
HKK 240/2
1 MAD
+
A. YOUR DRAFT REPLY AGREED.
No
2. WE SUGGEST FOLLOWING REPLIES TO B, C AND D.
CGE
513
AP 4/3
B. I AM SATISFIED WITH PUBLIC REPRESENTATION THROUGH THE LONG ESTABLISHED COMPREHENSIVE NETWORK OF ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMITTEES AND THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POLICIES SET OUT IN THE 1981 WHITE PAPER ON DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION. ELECTIONS ON A WIDE FRANCHISE ARE BEING HELD IN MARCH IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND IN SEPTEMBER IN THE URBAN AREAS. THERE ARE NO PLANS TO GO BEYOND THESE
POLICIES.
C. WE BELIEVE CIVIC LIBERTIES TO BE IDENTICAL WITH THOSE IN THE UK. THERE IS NO ACCEPTED DEFINITION OF HUMAN RIGHTS BUT IN GENERAL
THE POSITION IN HONG KONG IS VERY SIMILAR TO THAT IN THE UK AND OUR RECORD IS GOOD. IF YOU WISH TO FIRM UP THE PROPOSED REPLY I SUGGEST YOU ADD THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE:: 'TAKEN IN SUM THE HUMAN RIGHTS AND CIVIC LIBERTIES AVAILABLE IN THE COLONY COMPARE VERY FAVOURABLE WITH ANY COUNTRY IN ASIA AND MOST IN EUROPE'.
D. THE TOTAL DIRECT EXPENDITURE WAS DOLLARS 16 MILLION,
3. BACKGROUND. AS REGARDS 'C' THERE IS NO MEASURE PROPOSED WHICH
OULD BE USEFUL IN THIS ANSWER. AS REGARDS 'D' WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT COULD USEFULLY BE ADDED BY WAY OF A STATEMENT.
MACLEHOSE
MINIMAL
HKAGD
LEGAL ADVISERS
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE
LONDON.
CONFIDENTIAL