RESTRICTED
46747 1
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FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. WE FEEL STRONGLY THAT THIS IS AN INSTANCE
WHEN THE POWER OF DISALLOWANCE SHOULD BE EXERCISED AND THE
SECTION REPEALED IN ITS ENTIRETY.
THANKING YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
ENDS
2.
HKD ARE REPLYING AT OFFICIAL LEVEL USING PARAS 2 AND 3
OF THE TEXT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S REPLY TO MR BIDDULPH (FCO
TELNO 854) WITH THE FOLLOWING CONCLUSION ADDED:
QUOTE IT FOLLOWS THAT WE DO NOT ACCEPT THAT THIS
LEGISLATION PRESENTS A THREAT TO THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH OR
THE PRESS IN HONG KONG AND THAT WE DO NOT AT THIS STAGE
SEE ANY CASE FOR THE EXERCISE OF THE POWER OF
DISALLOWANCE. (THIS WOULD BE A SERIOUS STEP WITHOUT
RECENT PRECEDENT, AND WITH PERHAPS UNWELCOME IMPLICATIONS
IN THE CONTEXT OF THE HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY HONG KONG
IS TO ENJOY AFTER 1997). UNQUOTE.
HOWE
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HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HO INEWS D.
HD/FED
RESEARCH D. (FE)
DEP.HD/PUSD
PS/MR RENTON
MR MCLAREN
MR GILLMORE
COPIES TO:
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
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