RESTRICTED
4. A RESOLUTION TO AMEND SO'S 1, 6 11 AND 63 WILL THEREFORE BE MOVED AT THE SITTING OF THE LEGCO ON 10 JULY.
+
5. IN COMMENTING ON THE AMENDMENT TO SO 63, THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING
POST HAS POINTED OUT THAT THE ORDER IN ITS AMENDED FORM IS VERY
SIMILAR TO THE ORIGINAL CLAUSE 20(C) OF THE POWERS AND PRIVILEGES BILL WHICH MADE IT A CRIMINAL OFFENCE TO PUBLISH, WITHOUT THE GENERAL OR SPECIAL LEAVE OF THE COUNCIL, A REPORT OF ANY PROCEEDINGS OF THE COUNCIL OR A COMMITTEE WHERE SUCH PROCEEDINGS HAVE NOT BEEN HELD IN PUBLIC" ALTHOUGHCLAUSE 20(C) WAS DELETED AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE THE SCMP SUGGESTED THAT WE ARE NOW TRYING TO REINTRODUCE A GAG ON PRESS FREEDOM VIA THE BACK DOOR. THIS IS OF COURSE A CONSIDERABLE EXAGGERATION AND HAVE DRAWN THE SCMP'S ATTENTION TO THE IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE THAT A BREACH OF THE STANDING ORDER WOULD NOT BE A CRIMINAL OFFENCE, MERELY A CONTRAVENTION OF LECCO'S HOUSE RULES. NO PENALTY IS PROVIDED AND THE MOST THAT COULD HAPPEN IS THAT THE SELECT COMMITTEE COULD INQUIRE INTO THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND, IF NECESSARY, CALL THE OFFENDER IN TO GIVE AN EXPLANATION.
AKERS-JONES
LIMITED
HKD.
PS.
PS) MR LUCE
SIRW HARDING
DR WILSON
RESTRICTED