THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1987
23
LEAKAGE OF EXCO PAPER TO BE CHECKED
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THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CERTAINLY LOOK INTO THE LEAKAGE OF A CONFIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL PAPER ON FILM CENSORSHIP REGULATIONS, THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, STRESSED TODAY (THURSDAY).
ASKED BY REPORTERS TO COMMENT ON THE LEAKAGE AFTER TODAY'S LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING, HE SAID THE LEAKAGE OF CONFIDENTIAL OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS WAS A SERIOUS MATTER AND THE GOVERNMENT WAS TAKING IT SERIOUSLY.
HOWEVER, SIR DAVID SAID HE DID NOT THINK THE LEAKAGE IN THIS CASE WOULD PUT THE GOVERNMENT INTO A DILEMMA.
HE SAID: THE DOCUMENT ITSELF WAS, IN FACT, GOING TO BE SHOWN TO THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TOMORROW.
*THE FACT THAT IT HAS BEEN MORE WIDELY DISTRIBUTED BY SOMEONE I DON'T THINK IT MATTERS IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT DOCUMENTS WHICH ARE PRIVATE TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SHOULD REMAIN IN PRIVATE.
+THIS IS TRUE NOT ONLY IN HONG KONG, BUT IN ANY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, I THINK, THAT CABINET PAPERS STAY WITHIN THE CABINET.+
ON THE QUESTION OF CENSORSHIP OF FILMS, SIR DAVID SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD TO CONSIDER THE PUBLIC EXHIBITION OF FILMS WHICH WOULD HARM HONG KONG'S RELATIONSHIPS NOT ONLY WITH CHINA, BUT WITH OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD.
+WE HAVE TO, I THINK, CONSIDER THE PUBLIC EXHIBITION OF SUCH FILMS VERY SERIOUSLY INDEED, HE SAID.
+MOST PEOPLE IN HONG KONG REALISE THAT THERE ARE SENSITIVITIES IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH NOT ONLY CHINA BUT WITH OTHER COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE TO BE RESPECTED, + SIR DAVID ADDED.
ASKED HOW SERIOUS THE LEAKAGE OF INFORMATION WOULD AFFECT THE GOVERNMENT IN DRAFTING REGULATIONS, HE SAID: IT MAKES THE CONDUCT OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.+
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