CONFIDENTIAL
HKC 012/1
057574
MDHOAN 2502
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 07020OZ HONG KONG
TELNO 611
OF 06113OZ APRIL 92
10.
YOUR TELNO 983: LEGCO QUESTION:
см
ла.
ARTICLE 23 BASIC LAW OFFENCES
1. IT IS OF COURSE FOR YOU TO DECIDE HOW THE REPLY SHOULD BE FRAMED. BUT, AS SEEN FROM HERE, THERE ARE 2 PROBLEMS WITH YOUR PROPOSALS:
(I) THE FINAL SENTENCE OF THE ANSWER (YOUR PARA 2) APPEARS
TO RISK SUBSEQUENT CHARGES FROM LEGCO MEMBERS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
ECONOMICAL WITH THE TRUTH GIVEN THAT PART OF THE QUESTION REFERS
TO PROHIBITING QUOTE FOREIGN POLITICAL ORGANISATIONS OR BODIES FROM CONDUCTING POLITICAL ACTIVITIES IN THE REGION, AND TO PROHIBIT POLITICAL ORGANISATIONS OR BODIES OF THE REGION FROM
ESTABLISHING TIES WITH FOREIGN POLITICAL ORGANISATIONS OR BODIES. UNQUOTE. THIS IS AN ELEMENT OF THE SOCIETIES ORDINANCE TO WHICH YOU DO NOT REFER IN YOUR ANSWER. HKG ARE ALREADY
ENGAGED IN DRAFTING AN AMENDMENT BILL TO THE SOCIETIES
ORDINANCE SEMI COLON
(II) IS THERE NOT A RISK THAT YOUR ANSWER TO SUPPLEMENTARY
12 ON THE SOCIETIES ORDINANCE (FAXED TO BUNTEN ON 6 APRIL) GOES
TOO FAR IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION? AS WE UNDERSTAND IT, THESE ISSUES HAVE NOT YET BEEN PUT TO EXCO. WE HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED
A COPY OF THE DRAFT AMENDMENT BILL TO THE SOCIETIES ORDINANCE
AND THEREFORE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO OFFER DEFINITIVE VIEWS ON THE AMENDMENTS. AND NO FINAL DECISION HAS YET BEEN REACHED ON WHETHER OR NOT TO INFORM/CONSULT THE CHINESE ON THE AMENDMENTS.
2.
WOULD IT NOT BE POSSIBLE TO COVER THE POINT BY REPLACING THE
FINAL SENTENCE OF THE ANSWER WITH A REFERENCE TO THE FACT THAT THE SOCIETIES ORDINANCE, LIKE OTHERS SUBJECT TO THE FREEZE PERIOD, REMAINS UNDER REVIEW BY HKG?
3. WE WILL LET YOU HAVE FURTHER COMMENTS ON THE SUPPLEMENTARIES DESKBY 08020OZ.
HURD