BEGINS
CONFIDENTIAL
41814
ENDS
3.
WE WOULD LIKE TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE, 1987, RECENTLY PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THIS SEEMS TO US TO POSE GRAVE HAZARDS NOT ONLY TO THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS BUT TO THE EXPRESSION OF PUBLIC OPINION IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. THE BILL HAS NOW
BECOME AN ORDINANCE AND PART OF HONG KONG LAW. IS IT POSSIBLE TO STOP THIS BECOMING ENSHRINED IN OUR STATUTES FOR THE NEXT SIXTY YEARS?
YOU WILL, NO DOUBT BE BESEIGED BY OTHER DELEGATIONS IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. WE ARE PREPARED TO SEND OUR OWN DELEGATE, IF IT WILL HELP SORT OUT WHAT SEEMS LIKE A DREADFUL MESS.
JIM BIDDULPH
PRESIDENT, FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS' CLUB.
PS. YOU ARE ALREADY BOOKED TO SPEAK TO THE F.C.C. WITHIN
A WEEK OF ARRIVING
OUR INCLINATION IS TO RECOMMEND THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHOULD REPLY ON THE LINES OF PARA 2 OF MIPT, AND THAT AN FCO MINISTER (THOUGH NOT THE SECRETARY OF STATE) SHOULD AGREE TO SEE MR BIDDULPH OR WHOMEVER F.C.C. DECIDE TO SEND. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS DESKBY 1709UOZ.
4。
SIR D WILSON IS CONSIDERING MR BIDDULPH'S TELEX AND WE
SHALL LET YOU KNOW HOW HE DECIDES TO RESPOND.
HOWE
OCMIAN 1814
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
RESEARCH D. (FE)
DEP.HD/PUSD
PS/MR RENTON
HD/NEWS.D SIR. D. WILSON MR GILLMORE
2
COPIES TO:
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
CONFIDENTIAL
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