CONFIDENTIAL
043210
MDHIAN 7436
CONFIDENTIAL
нко 01213
LOE VED IN REGISTRY
3 OMAY 1991
[+
TOP COP Q DIST?
MS
FM UKREP JLG HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 140
OF 20061OZ MAY 91
INFO ROUTINE PEKING, HONG KONG
©
HONG KONG TELNO 1557: PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE
1 I REMAIN EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE LIKELY EFFECT OF PROCEEDING WITH THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AT THIS STAGE. IN MY VIEW THE TIMING SUGGESTED DOES NOT HELP VERY MUCH. WE SHOULD HAVE TO INFORM THE CHINESE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING BEFORE THE ENACTMENT OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS, AND PROBABLY VERY SHORTLY AFTER THE CURRENT ROUND OF AIRPORT TALKS HAVE FINISHED.
2. HOWEVER IT IS THE SUBSTANCE AS WELL AS THE TIMING TO WHICH THE CHINESE WILL OBJECT. I AGREE WITH HONG KONG TO THE EXTENT THAT THESE CHANGES ARE LIKELY TO CAUSE TROUBLE WITH THE CHINESE WHENEVER THEY ARE MADE. WHETHER OR NOT IT IS SENSIBLE TO PROCEED WITH THEM SEEMS TO US TO DEPEND ON THE OVERALL PICTURE. IF THE AIRPORT TALKS HAVE BROKEN DOWN AND WE ARE UNDERGOING A MAJOR ROW WITH THE CHINESE, THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE WILL NOT MAKE VERY MUCH DIFFERENCE. IF HOWEVER WE HAVE STITCHED TOGETHER A PACKAGE ON THE AIRPORT, OR ARE STILL FEELING OUR WAY TOWARDS ONE, THEN DROPPING THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE INTO THE POOL WOULD RISK DISPROPORTIONATE DISRUPTION.
GALSWORTHY
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ΜΑΙΝ
61
.HONG KONG AGREEMENT
.(RESTRICTED)
LIMITED
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CONFIDENTIAL