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OCMIAN 6747
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PP HOKON
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
061630Z APR
GRS 350
VD 2014 RECEIVED NUR ISTRY
7 APR 1987
#GISTRY
Taken
RESTRICTED
FM FCO
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELNO 996
OF 061630Z APRIL 87
PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE
Imek
9/4
1.
MR RENTON HAS RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING TELEX FROM PETER
R KANN, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF DOW JONES AND CO INC,
NEW YORK:
BEGINS
DOW JONES AND CO, PUBLISHER OF THE ASIAN WALL STREET
JOURNAL AND THE FAR EASTERN ECONOMIC REVIEW, WISHES TO VOICE
SUPPORT FOR THE HONG KONG JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION AND THE
HONG KONG FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS CLUB IN OPPOSING SECTION 27 OF
THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE, WHICH WAS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL ON MARCH 11.
WE VIEW THIS LEGISLATION AS A SERIOUS THREAT TO THE FREEDOM
OF THE PRESS IN HONG KONG. THERE IS NO SIMILAR LEGISLATION IN
THE US OR BRITAIN, AND WE SEE NO JUSTIFICATION FOR HAVING SUCH
LEGISLATION IN HONG KONG. WHILE THE PROVISION HAD EXISTED IN
A DIFFERENT FORM SINCE 1951, TIMES AND CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE
CHANGED. THE WORDING OF THIS LEGISLATION WAS ALTERED LESS THAN
A WEEK BEFORE IT WAS PUSHED THROUGH ITS SECOND AND THIRD
READINGS IN THE COUNCIL. THE CHANGES SUBSTANTIALLY ALTERED THE
LEGISLATION. IN ITS PRESENT FORM THE LEGISLATION IS EVEN WORSE
THAN BEFORE, PRESENTING A THREAT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH AS WELL AS
RESTRICTED
LO