B
A
5.
CONFIDENTIAL
Hong Kong's latest
telegram
summarises developments
since February. There has been some (modest) pressure for
repeal: and in LegCo on 5 November Miss Maria Tam, a member
of ExCo, associated herself with these calls for repeal in
her response to the Governor's opening LegCo address. Hong
Kong now propose that in his Legco reply to Miss Tam's
speech оп 26 November, the Hong Kong Attorney General
should commit the Hong Kong Government to a review of the
legislation in question. Although not formally committing
the Hong Kong Government to repeal, it is likely that
(subject to the views of ExCo, who will be consulted before
the end of this year) repeal will proceed.
6.
An important aspect remains of course the Chinese
reaction to such an announcement.
In his submission of
11 February Mr Galsworthy felt that we should not inform
the Chinese in advance of what Hong Kong intend, and I
endorse that view. There have been no developments in our
relations with the Chinese in the past 9 months to alter
it. We should of cours e bear in mind that the Hong Kong
Attorney General's speech will be made during the fifth
meeting of the Joint Liaison Group, which will take place
in Peking between 25 and 28 November. If the Chinese do
the issue of the Attorney the line formulated in para
use
this opportunity to raise
announcement with us,
General's
10 of Mr Galsworthy's submission provides the basis for an
adequate response. However we should use the time between
to formulate a more detailed line, and
asks Hong Kong
now and 26 November
the draft telegram
thought to this.
and Peking to give
Corta
14 November 1986
CO Hum
Hong Kong Department
CONFIDENTIAL