CONFIDENTIAL
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000052 MDHIAN 8464
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 705
OF 240530Z FEBRUARY 90
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
HONG
HKL020/2
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY.........
7. EB 1990
REGISTRY Action Taken
INFO PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG
YRTELNO 429:
4
SK OFFI
FURTHER CHINESE COMPLAINTS ABOUT SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITY IN HONG KONG
1. WE ARE NOT AT ALL SURE THAT THE CHINESE WOULD CONSIDER OMELCO'S STATEMENT OF 16 FEBRUARY AS IN ANY WAY POSITIVE. NOR ARE WE SURE THAT WE SHOULD CONFUSE THE ISSUE OF THE RIGHT TO DEMONSTRATE LEGALLY WITH PARTICULAR REACTIONS TO THE BASIC LAW. WE WOULD THEREFORE PREFER TO OMIT THE SECOND SENTENCE IN PARA 3 OF TUR, TO AMEND THE FIRST SENTENCE TO READ:
AND
OPEN QUOTES HONG KONG PEOPLE ARE FREE TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINION ABOUT THE DRAFT BASIC LAW AS ON ANY OTHER SUBJECT, AND A VARIETY OF VIEWS HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED CLOSE QUOTES.
2. IF THE CHINESE WERE TO RAISE THE LEGCO DEBATE ON THE BASIC LAW, WE SUGGEST THAT PIGOTT SHOULD DRAW ON THE FOLLOWING DEFENSIVE MATERIAL:
OPEN QUOTES WE EXPECT A VARIETY OF VIEWS TO BE EXPRESSED IN THE LEGCO DEBATE, INCLUDING VIEWS BY THOSE WHO WISH TO TAKE A POSITIVE APPROACH TOWARDS THE CHANGES BEING INTRODUCED IN 1991 CLOSE QUOTES.
3. IF THE CHINESE ASK ABOUT THE MCGREGOR MOTION, PIGOTT WILL NEED TO EXPLAIN THAT IT IS FULLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH STANDING ORDERS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL MEMBER TO TABLE A MOTION IF HE WISHES.
WILSON
YYYY
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