558
GRS 1900
UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO PRHORNTY FCO
TELNO 2688
OF 08110OZ JULY 87
Ние зак
RECEIV
10 JUL 1987
RY
a Take.
PA Joy/
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDONOR 15/2
мена
IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY, MR. MARTIN LEE ASKED:
WITH REGARD TO :
(A) THE RECENT PUBLICATION BY THE OUTLOOK MAGAZINE OF A STATEMENT ATTRIBUTED TO MR. LaN HOU, THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE, THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF DIRECT ELECTIONS IN 1988 WILL BE A BREACH OF THE SPRINTY OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, WHICH STATEMENT WAS DISTRIBUTED BY THE XINHUA NEWS AGENCY TO A NUMBER OF
JOURNALISTS HN HONG KONG AND, WHICH STATEMENT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DENIED BY MR. L HOU AS HAVING BEEN MADE BY HIM, AND
(B) THE PUBLICATION OF AN ARTICLE IN THE HONG KONG STANDARD ON 20 JUNE, 1987 ENTITLED ''KEEP YOUR NOSE OUT, BRITAIN TELLS CHINA'NIN WHICH CERTAIN STATEMENTS WERE ATTRIBUTED TO A FOREIGN OFFICE SPOKESMAN'' WHICH STATEMENTS WERE LATER DENIED BY THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE AS HAVING BEEN MADE BY THEM:
WILL THE ADMINISTRATION INFORM THUS COUNCIL AS TO THE FOLLOWING:
(1) WHETHER ANY PROSECUT MONS WILL BE INSTITUTED UNDER SECTION 27 OF THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE IN RELATION TO THE PUBLICAT HON OF EACH OF
THE SAND STATEMENTS WITH REGARD TO:
(A) THE FALSITY OF THE NEWS:
(B) THE PUBLICATION THEREOF: AND
(C) THE LIKELIHOOD TO CAUSE ALARM TO THE PUBLIC OR A SECTION THEREOF:
(2) WHETHER ANY INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CONDUCTED OR IS BEING CONDUCT- ED BY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN RELATION TO THE SAND
PUBLICATIONS?
2. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL GAVE THE FOLLOWING REPLY:
**SIR,
7
NO INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN, OR IS BEING INSTITUTED, IN RELATION TO THESE PUBLICATIONS. NOR CAN SEE ANY PROSPECT OF A PROSECUTION UNDER SECTION 27 OF THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE IN THE LIGHT OF THE FACTS DISCLOSED BY THE QUESTION.WHEN THE BILL WAS DEBATED LAST MARCH, THIS COUNCIL SUPPORTED THIS SECTION ON THE BASIS THAT IT WAS DIRECTED AT THE RRESPONSIBLE PUBLICATION OF BLATANT FALSEHOODS AND
I would