TNAG-0080-FCO40-116-Public-Order-legislation-1967 — Page 22

CONFIDENTIAL

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IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (D.T.D.)

1793

CONFIDENTIAL

30 November 1967

Your telegram No. 2433:

Public Order Ordinance.

1.

2.

The Ordinance was enacted on 29 October.

The speech of the Attorney General, which explained the main provision of the Bill in more detail, has already been publicised in Chinese. Now that the Ordinance has been enacted, a series of articles in Chinese explaining the measures in simple language will be published, These articles will include Chinese translations of important sections. I consider that these methods will be more effective than publishing a Chinese translation of the text of the Ordinance.

3. As regards the second question, you are aware that work on this Ordinance has been in progress since 1962, and a first draft was forwarded to you in April 1964. The provisions of the Ord- inance are such as are required day to day by any Government in an over-crowded city with a population such as Hong Kong's.

The only emergency regulations which have been incorporated in the Ordinance as a result of the recent disturbances are those providing for the offences of intimidation and intimidating assembly, which have been powerful weapons of the local Communists in their campaign against law-abiding citizens, endeavouring loyally to carry on with their work especially those engaged in maintaining services essential to the life of the community. These provisions were added to the public order Ordinance after most careful consideration because so long as Communist organ- isations continue to exist there will always be a danger of intimidation.

5.

It is emphasised that of the considerable amount of emergency legislation which it has been necessary to introduce since 11 May- see my Saving Despatch 216 of 27 September 1967, - the regulations on intimidation are the only ones which have been incorporated into this law. It still remains my intention to repeal the remaining emergency regulations as soon as circumstances make it safe to do so.

Sir D. Trench.

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