CONFIDENTIAL
OCMIAN 1114
CONFIDENTIAL
OO HOKON
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
121700Z MAR
GRS 260
3011
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
13 MAR 1987
FICER
PA
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 756
OF 12170OZ MARCH 87
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
REGISTRY Action Taker
03/3
41114
FROM HKD
YOUR TELNO 998 (NOT TO PEKING): PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) BILL
1987
1.
THANK YOU FOR THIS USEFUL REPORT. THERE MAY YET BE
FURTHER INTEREST HERE. WE HAVE SEEN PRESS REPORTS (THE INDEPENDENT 12 MARCH) THAT HONG KONG JOURNALISTS ARE CONSIDERING LOBBYING MPS TO PRESS FOR REPEAL OF THE ORDINANCE. NEWS DEPARTMENT HAVE RECEIVED SOME PRESS ENQUIRIES ON THESE REPORTS, AND HAVE RESPONDED USING THE HOLDING LINE IN OUR TELNO 692. SECRETARY OF STATE MENTIONED THE RECENT PUBLICITY SURROUNDING THE AMENDING LEGISLATION TO SIR D WILSON AT THE WEEKEND.
THE
GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD KEEP US CLOSELY INFORMED OF ANY FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS.
2.
3.
IN THIS CONNECTION LEGAL ADVISERS HAVE NOTED PARA 8 OF YOUR TELNO 899, WHICH COMMENTS ON MARTIN LEE'S PROPOSED AMENDMENT ADDING THE QUALIFICATION THAT THE OFFENDER SHOULD KNOW, OR BE RECKLESS AS TO, THE FALSITY OF THE NEWS. LEGAL ADVISERS HAVE POINTED OUT THAT THE HONG KONG CRIMES ORDINANCE, FOLLOWING THE UK PERJURY ACT, REQUIRES PROOF THAT THE ACCUSED KNEW THE RELEVANT
1
CONFIDENTIAL
1
هر
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