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CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 596
OF 270959Z FEBRUARY 92
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
3
OUR TELNO 551 AND YOUR TELNO 228: ORDER-IN-COUNCIL
W
OFFICIALS SECRETS ACT 1989:
1. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROMPT REPLY TO OUR TUR. IN ADVANCE OF
THE LEGCO DEBATE ON A MOTION ON FREEDOM OF THE PRESS IN HONG KONG WE SOUGHT EXCO'S ADVICE ON 25 FEBRUARY ON THE EXTENSION OF THE OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT 1989 TO HONG KONG. EXCO AGREED THAT WE SHOULD PROCEED WITH THIS AND WE NOTIFIED LEGCO DURING THE MOTION DEBATE ON 26 FEBRUARY THAT WE WOULD NOW ARRANGE FOR THE 1989 ACT TO BE EXTENDED BY ORDER-IN-COUNCIL AND THAT WE EXPECTED THIS PROCESS TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
2.
GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD PLEASE PURSUE THIS AS A MATTER OF URGENCY. WE NOTE FROM YOUR TUR THE DATES OF PRIVY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND WOULD LIKE THE ORDER TO BE MADE AT THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY, BUT UNDERSTAND THE UNCERTAINTY OVER DATES BECAUSE OF THE GENERAL ELECTION.
3.
WHEN DRAWING UP THE ORDER, WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WILL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT OUR PREFERENCE FOR THE TEXT TO BE REPRODUCED IN A SCHEDULE TO THE ORDER, RATHER THAN MERELY BY MODIFICATIONS TO THE ACT BEING SET OUT IN THE SCHEDULE. OUR TELNO 2490 OF 8 AUGUST 1991, TO WHICH WE DO NOT APPEAR TO HAVE RECEIVED A REPLY, REFERS.
WILSON
YYYY
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