GRS 500 RESTRICTED
DESKEY 24090OZ
RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG 240201Z JUN 85
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1245 OF 24 JUNE.
38/MIPT. LEGCO (POWERS AND PRIVILEGES) BILL.
FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF ARTICLE.
TOP COPY
HICK ON|12
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
2 4 JUN1985
DESK OFFICER
BEGINS:-
LUCE TO HEAR OF POWERS FEAR
INDEX
FROM DAVID HEALY
LONDON, JUNE 23.
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken
Са
BRITAIN'S SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL, MR JOHN MORRIS, IS TO SEE THE FOREIGN OFFICE MINISTER, MR RICHARD LUCE, TOMORROW TO CONVEY TO HIM ANXIETY FROM HONGKONG LAWYERS ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (POWERS AND PRIVILEGES) BILL.
MR MORRIS HAS RECEIVED A TELEX MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HONGKONG BRANCH OF JUSTICE, MR IAN MACCALLUM, SETTING OUT THE FEARS OF LAWYERS IN THE TERRITORY THAT THE MEASURE MAY REPRESENT A
RESTRICTION OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
HE SAID TODAY HE HAD SOUGHT AN IMMEDIATE MEETING WITH MR LUCE
AND WILL SEE THE MINISTER, WHO HAS SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR
HONGKONG, AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE TOMORROW AFTERNOON.
THE TELEX HAS BEEN SENT WITH THE BACKING AND AGREEMENT OF THE
BAR ASSOCIATION AND THE LAW SOCIETY IN HONGKONG.
MR MORRIS SAID TODAY: ''AS THE SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL, I AM
GOING TO EXPLORE WITH MR LUCE THE FEARS OF THE LAWYERS THERE.''
HE BELIEVED THE FOREIGN OFFICE MAY FEEL THAT THEY HAVE TO GIVE
A FREE HAND TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT.
HOWEVER, MR MORRIS SAID THE SITUATION IN HONGKONG AT PRESENT WAS VERY DELICATE.
''IT WOULD BE UNWISE TO CAUSE FEARS AND ANXIETY UNNECESARILY
IN HONG KONG. WHEN BODIES OF THIS STANDING AND REPUTATION SAY THEY
REGARD THIS MMEASURE AS POSSIBLE RESTRICTION ON FREEDOM OF SPEECH
THEN I THINK THE MATTER MUST BE LOOKED AT VERY CLOSELY TO ENSURE
THAT THESE FEARS ARE NOT AROUSED.
''THEREFORE IT MIGHT WELL BE BETTER FOR THE FOREIGN OFFICE TO
CONSIDER WHETHER A DELAY COULD ALLAY THESE FEARS.' + 1
RESTRICTED
HE
+1