OCMIAN 5543
CONFIDENTIAL
PP HOKON
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
14160OZ FEB
GRS 280
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELNO 293
OF 14160OZ FEBRUARY 86
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
TOP COPY
CONFIDENTIAL
15543 - 1
MKK 30/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
17 FEB 1936
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
NISTRY
Metion Taken
охо
(2
YOUR TELNO 313 AND PEKING TELNO 176 COPIED TO YOU: CONTROL OF
PUBLICATIONS CONSOLIDATION ORDINANCE
1.
WE HAVE CONSULTED MINISTERS ON YOUR PROPOSALS AND HAVE
CONSIDERED THE ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST REPEAL PRESENTED IN
TURS.
WE SHARE YOUR VIEW THAT THE BALANCE OF ARGUMENT LIES IN
FAVOUR OF REPEAL, THE ONLY POTENTIAL DIFFICULTY BEING THE CHINESE
ATTITUDE. HOWEVER, WE ARE INCLINED TO AGREE WITH PEKING'S VIEW
THAT IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR THE CHINESE TO ARGUE CONVINCINGLY
AGAINST REPEAL, PARTICULARLY IN PUBLIC.
2.
OUR INITIAL VIEW IS THAT WE SHOULD NOT (NOT) APPROACH THE
CHINESE TO EXPLAIN WHAT WE INTEND. TO DO SO WOULD FORCE THEM TO
TAKE A VIEW ON A MATTER THEY MIGHT FIND IT EASIER TO IGNORE, AND
WOULD SUGGEST TO THEM THAT WE SEE IMPORTANT 'FUTURE' IMPLICATIONS
IN THE STEP. IT MIGHT MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM TO ARGUE THE CASE
AGAINST REPEAL.
3.
REGARDING YOUR QUERY ABOUT REACTION IN WESTMINSTER TO A
HONG KONG CONTROVERSY ON THIS QUESTION, WE WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT
THOSE MPS CLOSELY INTERESTED IN HONG KONG AFFAIRS WOULD BE LIKELY
TO SUPPORT ANY MEASURE AIMED AT REPEALING THESE ARCHAIC
PROVISIONS AND THUS LIBERALISING LAWS ON PRESS FREEDOM IN THE
TERRITORY.
14.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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