__HKD 301
2. & MAR 1987
A
GISTRY
von Taken
OCMIAN 4244
CONFIDENTIAL
OO HOKON
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
251645Z MAR
GRS 256
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 878
OF 251645Z MARCH 87
TOP COPY
Q DIST 7
CONFIDENTIAL
44244
1
OUR TELNO 854: PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE
1.
WE SHALL NEED TO PREPARE VERY CAREFUL BRIEFING FOR MR
RENTON IN THE EVENT THAT BIDDULPH AND THE FCC ACCEPTA THE OFFER
OF A MEETING ON 1 APRIL. WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT AT LEAST TWO
HKJA MEMBERS WILL ARRIVE HERE OVER THE COMING WEEKEND TO LOBBY MPS
AND UK PRESS ORGANISATIONS, AND THAT THEY MAY ALSO TRY TO SEE
MINISTERS.
2.
THE BASIC LINE THAT WE SHALL RECOMMEND THAT MR RENTON
TAKES WITH BIDDULPH IS SUMMARISED IN TUR. FURTHER USEFUL
DEFENSIVE POINTS ARE CONTAINED IN YOUR TELNO 998, AND IN THE
CHIEF SECRETARY'S AND ATTORNEY GENERAL'S SPEECHES ON 11 MARCH
WHICH YOU HAVE SENT US BY FAX. HOWEVER, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO
HAVE YOUR ADVICE ON A SUITABLE LINE TO TAKE IN ANSWER TO TWO
POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL LINES OF CRITICISM:
(A)
(B)
THAT INSUFFICIENT TIME (5 DAYS) WAS ALLOWED FOR PUBLIC
CONSIDERATION OF THE IMPORTANT AMENDMENT INTRODUCED BY THE
ADMINISTRATION AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE: AND
THAT AS PUBLIC CONCERN BECAME CLEAR IN THE LAST WEEK
BEFORE THE RESUMED DEBATE ON 11 MARCH, THAT DEBATE SHOULD
HAVE BEEN DEFERRED (OR THE BILL REMITTED TO CONSIDERATION
BY A LEGCO SELECT COMMITTEE) TO ALLOW FOR FURTHER PUBLIC
1
CONFIDENTIAL