GRS 110
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 2713OOZ FCO
TELNO 1620
OF 2711OOZ APRIL 87
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
HTO RECEIVED
REGISTRY
27 APR 1987
MY TELNOS 1563 AND 1587 AND YOUR TELNO 1167: FILM CENSORSHIP
GIVEN THE UNCERTAINTY OVER THE COMPATIBILITY OF THE CURRENT
GUIDELINES FOR CENSORSHIP WITH THE CONVENTION ON CIVIL AND
POLITICAL RIGHTS THE CENSOR HAS DECIDED TO POSTPONE HIS DECISON
ON THE COLDEST WINTER IN PEKING''. THE MAIN PROBLEM IS WHETHER
THE GROUNDS OF DAMAGE TO RELATIONS WITH OTHER TERRITORIES CAN
BE USED.
#
2. EXCO WILL BE BROUGHT UP TO DATE ON 28 APRIL.
aken
28/9
3. CLEARLY WE CANNOT OPERATE IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG
WITHOUT THE POWER TO BAN FILMS OFFENSIVE TO CHINA. THIS AFFECTS
NOT ONLY THE CASE UNDER CONSIDERATION BUT ALSO FUTURE LEGISLATION
ON CENSORSHIP. A FURTHER TELEGRAM SETTING OUT THE PROBLEM IN
GREATER DETAIL AND SEEKING ADDITIONAL LEGAL VIEWS WILL BE SENT
TOMORROW. THE AG WOULD BE HAPPY TO DISCUSS WITH YOUR LEGAL ADVISERS
WHEN HE IS IN LONDON ON 1 MAY.
4. WE WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS.
WILSON
YYYY
HMLNAN 0234
LIMITED
HKD FED INFO.D
PS/MR RENTON
MR GILLMORE MR MCLAREN
CONFIDENTIAL