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all its works.
5. The detailed legal and technical comments in the second
telegram concentrate on the powers the police enjoy in
regard to arrest (arbitrary or not) and detention, and the
possibility from challenges in the Hong Kong Courts. These
comments need not hold up consultations with ExCo.
Ministers have previously agreed that we should have
discretion to approve Hong Kong's proposals for handling
Ordinances subject to the BOR freeze period where these do
not raise significant political issues. Despite Peking's views, and in the absence of overwhelming political considerations which would require us to brief the Chinese,
and which would only serve to give the Chinese an
opportunity to voice their objections to the BOR, I
recommend we agree to Hong Kong's proposal not to brief the
Chinese.
Пор H.
PF Ricketts
KS1ACP/3
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