032055
MDHIAN 4625
CAPIL OF THE CHARGES AGAINST THEM. THE LOBBYING CAMPAIGN IN LOND BY TWO ORGANISATIONS WHICH HAVE CLOSE LINKS WITH THOSE CONCERNED IS EVIDENCE OF THIS. WHEN I WAS IN THE UNITED STATES I FOUND THAT MARTIN LEE HAD SENT MATERIAL COMPLAINING ABOUT THE CASES IN PARA 7 ABOVE TO SOME OF THOSE I WAS DUE TO SEE.
12. DOUBTLESS THESE ACTIVITIES WILL CAUSE US SOME DIFFICULTY AND PRODUCE SOME UNFAVOURABLE MEDIA COVERAGE. BUT AGAINST THIS, AND QUITE APART FROM UPHOLDING THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE PROSECUTING AUTHORITIES, WE HAVE TO SET THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT/NOT ALLOWING ONE PART OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM TO BELIEVE, OR ACT AS THOUGH, IT IS ABOVE THE LAW. IN DEALING WITH A STREAM OF CHINESE COMPLAINTS ABOUT ALLOWING DEMONSTRATIONS, WE RIGHTLY RESPOND BY TELLING THEM THAT WE DO NOT INTEND TO INTERFERE WITH ACTIONS WITHIN THE LAW. IT WOULD
MAKE A NONSENSE OF THIS POSITION IF THE POLICE THEN TOOK NO ACTION
AGAINST ACTIVITIES WHICH WERE MANIFESTLY, AND QUITE DELIBERATELY,
IN DEFIANCE OF THE LAW.
13. NO DOUBT SOME OF ALL THIS WILL BE AIRED IN DISCUSSION OF THE
BILL OF RIGHTS. BUT IT IS WORTH BEARING IN MIND THAT THE CONTROLS THAT WE HAVE UNDER THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE AND THE SUMMARY
OFFENCES ORDINANCE ARE NOT ONEROUS. THEY HAVE A GOOD DEAL OF SUPPORT AS APPROPRIATE TO THE CROWDED ENVIRONMENT OF HONG KONG.
WHILE SOME CHANGES TO BOTH ORDINANCES MAY BE NECESSARY AS A RESULT OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS, IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT WE SHALL WISH, OR NEED, TO REMOVE THESE CONTROLS ALTOGETHER.
WILSON
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MR YAXLEY HKGO LONDON
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DISTRIBUTION
MR MCLAREN
MR BURNS
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