肇
YAFQ
The Ham, HKD
Thank
you.
CONFIDENTIAL
Savitary State
Blay
PA
17
From:
CO Hum
1/12
Hong Kong Department
Date:
HKD 301/2
SDEC 1988
30 November 1988
1
PS/Lord Glenarthur
Mr Gillmore
Mr McLaren
Mr Burns, News Dept
Private Secretary
PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE: REVIEW OF SECTION 27
Mr Forman
N2/12
W/3
%2
1.
I attach Hong Kong telno 4394, giving the text of a
self-explanatory press release issued in Hong Kong a few hours ago.
2.
The Secretary of State will recall the background. During
the interregnum between Sir Edward Youde and Sir David Wilson the
Hong Kong Government completed a review of certain press legislation. While most provisions were scrapped, it was decided
to retain one provision banning the publication of false news likely to cause public alarm. The decision caused a major confrontation
in Legco. It also attracted criticism from human rights lobbyists
and guardians of the free press in Hong Kong, in Britain and internationally. Considerable damage was done to Hong Kong's international image.
3.
Sir D Wilson decided long ago that the provision should be
reviewed as soon as he had a new legislative council, not associated
with the original controversial decision to retain it. The decision
to repeal the provision is a welcome one.
Cotten
CO Hum
CONFIDENTIAL