CYPHER/CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELEGRAM NUMBER 766
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY
TO HONG KONG
2 DECEMBER 1969 (HKK 14/15)
32)
LOLLOWING PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION BY JOHN RANKIN IS FOR ORAL REPLY
ON 8 DECEMBER.
'' TO ASK THE SECRETARY OF STATE WHAT CONSULTATIONS HE HAS HAD
WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE RIGHTS
OF PUBLIC ASSEMBLY,**
2. IN THE LIGHT OF YOUR SAVING DESPATCH NO, 1862 WE ARE PROPOSING
TO SUBMIT REPLY ALONG FOLLOWING LINES :
?? AS A RESULT OF CONSULTATIONS THAT I HAVE HAD WITH THE
GOVERNOR, A DRAFT BILL TO AMEND THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE HAS BEEN PREPARED AND HAS BEEN REFERRED TO CERTAIN INTERESTED BODIES
IN HONG KONG. THE BILL IS DESIGNED TO AMELIORATE CERTAIN PROVISIONS
OF THE ORDINANCE IN THEIR APPLICATION TO PUBLIC ASSEMBLIES,"
3. SINCE DRAFT BILL HAS BEEN REFERRED TO ORGANISATIONS MENTIONED
IN YOUR SAVING DESPATCH. IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT IN REPLYING TO SUPPLEMENTARIES TO REFUSE TO DISCLOSE ANY OF THE BILL'S CONTENTS. WOULD YOU SEE ANY OBJECTION TO SUCH DISCLOSURE IF THIS WERE SOUGHT AND IF NOT, SUGGEST EXTENT TO WHICH SUCH INFORMATION MIGHT BE GIVEN ?
4. GRATEFUL TO LEARN EARLIEST WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH SUGGESTED LINES OF REPLY AND FOR ANY MATERIAL WHICH MIGHT BE USEFUL FOR SUPPLEMENT- ARIES. IF WOULD ALSO BE HELPFUL IF YOU COULD GIVE US SOME INDICATION OF DATE WHEN BILL IS LIKELY TO BE INTRODUCED IN LEGISLATURE,
STEWART
FILES
HONG KONG DEPT
PARLIAMENTARY UNIT
P.S. TO LORD SHEPHERD
33
CONFIDENTIAL
Page 45Page 46
Registry No. HKK 14/15 DEPARTMENT Hong Kong
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