SUNAER
CONFIDENTIAL
every good
Malicimsty:
CALL ON MR RENTON BY MR JIM BIDDULPH (HONG KONG FOREIGN
CORRESPONDENTS CLUB)
: maluj
false statement.
4PM 1 APRIL 1987
Points to Make
person.
Mishea
1.
Always happy to see visitors from Hong Kong and hear their views
on local issues. Understand you are concerned about recent public order legislation in Hong Kong.
Defensive
Public Order (Amendment) Ordinance
2. Primarily a matter for Hong Kong Government. Note that legislation passed on 11 March included repeal of many (7)
regulatory or controlling provisions of Control of Publications Consolidation Ordinance which had been part of Hong Kong laws for over 30 years. Legislation passed on 11 March represents a major liberalisation compared with previous position. In deciding upon repeal, Hong Kong Government felt that in such a small and densely populated place, necessary to retain a power in the 1951 Ordinance to act against anyone publishing false news which might threaten public order. To make clear that this measure was aimed at any threat to public order and not aimed at freedom of press, measure was transferred from Control of Publications Consolidation Ordinance
to Public Order Ordinance. In no sense a new measure.
(New measures introduced in response to Chinese pressure)
3. Can categorically assure you that this is not so. No such
pressure, or even discussion with Chinese. Under Joint Declaration HMG are fully responsible for Hong Kong's administration up to 1 July 1997, and we intend to maintain and exercise that responsibility.
CONFIDENTIAL