TNAG-1365-FCO40-1811-Hong-Kong-Legislative-Council-(Powers-and-Privileges)-Bill-1-1985 — Page 37

GRS 500 RESTRICTED

DESKEY 24090OZ

RESTRICTED

FM HONG KONG 240201Z JUN 85

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1245 OF 24 JUNE.

38/MIPT. LEGCO (POWERS AND PRIVILEGES) BILL.

FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF ARTICLE.

TOP COPY

HICK ON|12

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

2 4 JUN1985

DESK OFFICER

BEGINS:-

LUCE TO HEAR OF POWERS FEAR

INDEX

FROM DAVID HEALY

LONDON, JUNE 23.

PA

REGISTRY Action Taken

Са

BRITAIN'S SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL, MR JOHN MORRIS, IS TO SEE THE FOREIGN OFFICE MINISTER, MR RICHARD LUCE, TOMORROW TO CONVEY TO HIM ANXIETY FROM HONGKONG LAWYERS ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (POWERS AND PRIVILEGES) BILL.

MR MORRIS HAS RECEIVED A TELEX MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HONGKONG BRANCH OF JUSTICE, MR IAN MACCALLUM, SETTING OUT THE FEARS OF LAWYERS IN THE TERRITORY THAT THE MEASURE MAY REPRESENT A

RESTRICTION OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

HE SAID TODAY HE HAD SOUGHT AN IMMEDIATE MEETING WITH MR LUCE

AND WILL SEE THE MINISTER, WHO HAS SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR

HONGKONG, AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE TOMORROW AFTERNOON.

THE TELEX HAS BEEN SENT WITH THE BACKING AND AGREEMENT OF THE

BAR ASSOCIATION AND THE LAW SOCIETY IN HONGKONG.

MR MORRIS SAID TODAY: ''AS THE SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL, I AM

GOING TO EXPLORE WITH MR LUCE THE FEARS OF THE LAWYERS THERE.''

HE BELIEVED THE FOREIGN OFFICE MAY FEEL THAT THEY HAVE TO GIVE

A FREE HAND TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT.

HOWEVER, MR MORRIS SAID THE SITUATION IN HONGKONG AT PRESENT WAS VERY DELICATE.

''IT WOULD BE UNWISE TO CAUSE FEARS AND ANXIETY UNNECESARILY

IN HONG KONG. WHEN BODIES OF THIS STANDING AND REPUTATION SAY THEY

REGARD THIS MMEASURE AS POSSIBLE RESTRICTION ON FREEDOM OF SPEECH

THEN I THINK THE MATTER MUST BE LOOKED AT VERY CLOSELY TO ENSURE

THAT THESE FEARS ARE NOT AROUSED.

''THEREFORE IT MIGHT WELL BE BETTER FOR THE FOREIGN OFFICE TO

CONSIDER WHETHER A DELAY COULD ALLAY THESE FEARS.' + 1

RESTRICTED

HE

+1