XN000022-1985-05-27 — Page 3

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1985

+THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL ABIDE STRICTLY BY THE TERMS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION AND ITS ANNEXES. THE BRITISH GOVERNMEN IS CERTAIN THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WILL DO LIKEWISE.

*THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT LOOKS FORWARD TO COOPERATING CLOSELY WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT IN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP WHICH HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED UNDER PARAGRAPH 5 OF THE JOINT DECLARATION.

+AS THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER SAID IN HER SPEECH AFTER THE SIGNATURE OF THE JOINT DECLARATION ON 19 DECEMBER, 1984, ".... I AM CONVINCED THAT AS WE WORK TOGETHER IN THE FUTURE WE SHALL BE LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR AN EVEN CLOSER AND DEEPER RELATIONSHIP. THAT IS GOOD FOR BRITAIN; GOOD FOR CHINA; AND GOOD FOR THE WORLD. ABOVE ALL, IT IS GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

+YOUR EXCELLENCIES, THE ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THE JOINT DECLARATION OF OUR TWO GOVERNMENTS IS AN EVENT OF GREAT SIGNIFICANCE. IT IS ALSO AN EXCELLENT AUGURY FOR THE VISIT WHICH PREMIER ZHAO ZIYANG IS ABOUT TO MAKE TO MY COUNTRY.+

TRIBUNAL IDEA ON PUBLICATIONS WELL ADVANCED' *****

A WORKING GROUP WAS WELL ADVANCED IN DEVISING A SUITABLE SCHEME FOR A TRIBUNAL TO OPERATE IN HONG KONG TO DEAL WITH OBJECTIONABLE PUBLICATIONS, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR MICHAEL THOMAS, SAID TODAY.

THE WORKING GROUP, CHAIRED BY HIS ASSISTANT,

CHAIRED BY HIS ASSISTANT, MR BILL MARSHALL, HAD BEEN LOOKING INTO THIS IDEA SINCE HE SPOKE ON THE SUBJECT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR.

THE WORKING GROUP'S PRINCIPAL PROPOSAL WOULD, HE THOUGHT, BE THAT THE TRIBUNAL SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF A LAWYER, BUT OTHERWISE COMPOSED OF LAYMEN AND LAYWOMEN, PREDOMINANTLY DRAWN FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY TO RULE WHETHER OR NOT THE MATERIAL IN QUESTION WAS OBJECTIONABLE, MR THOMAS SAID.

THIS WOULD ENABLE A PRELIMINARY DECISION TO BE MADE IN A VERY SHORT TIME ON ANY DOUBTFUL PUBLICATION SUBMITTED TO IT.

MR THOMAS WAS SPEAKING AT THE MEETING OF THE KUN TONG COMMUNITY HEALTH PROJECT TODAY,

/+ANYONE WOULD