१
GRS 220
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 3796
OF 131015Z NOVEMBER 86
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
Confidential
HKK 301/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
13 NOV 1986
C'R
PA
O
21
TOP COPY Q DIST?
YOUR TELNO 293 OF 14 FEBRUARY: CONTROL OF PUBLICATIONS CONSOLIDATION
ORDINANCE,
1. WE NOW PLAN TO GO AHEAD WITH REPEAL. THE ARGUMENTS HAVE
NOT CHANGED SINCE FEBRUARY. THERE HAS HOWEVER BEEN SOME DISCUSSION
IN THE LOCAL PRESS WITH THE ACCENT ON **PRESERVING PRESS FREEDOM
AFTER 1997'' (SCMP 25 MAY). PETITIONS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE
HONG KONG JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION (JUNE 1986) AND THE NEWSPAPER
SOCIETY OF HONG KONG (SEPTEMBER 1986). THE THRUST HAS BEEN THAT
THE ORDINANCE IS HOPELESSLY OUTDATED.
2. MISS MARIA TAM ASSOCIATED HERSELF WITH THE THEME ON A PERSONAL
BASIS IN LEGCO DURING THE DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS ON
5 NOVEMBER, MAKING THE POINT THAT CONTROL OF THE PRESS BY STATUTE WAS A PRODUCT OF THE 1950S AND NOT NOW ACCEPTABLE: PRESS FREEDOM
MUST BE BOTH PROTECTED BY AND SUBJECT TO THE DISCIPLINES OF THE COMMON LAW. THE AG WILL RESPOND IN LEGCO ON 26 NOVEMBER ON THE
LINES THAT MISS TAM HAS MADE AN IMPORTANT POINT AND THAT THE
GOVERNMENT WILL GIVE THE QUESTION SERIOUS STUDY. IN OTHER WORDS WE SHALL COMMIT OURSELVES FORMALLY TO EXAMINING THE ISSUE
THOUGH NOT NECESSARILY TO REPEALING THE ORDINANCE. WE CANNOT
GO FURTHER THAN THIS BEFORE WE CONSULT EXCO (WHICH IS LIKELY TO BE ON ABOUT END-DECEMBER). WE WILL TELEGRAPH A DRAFT OF THE AG'S REPLY TOMMOROW.
3. WE HAVE CONSIDERED BUT REJECTED THE IDEA OF TESTING THE CHINESE RESPONSE IN ADVANCE LOCALLY. NATURALLY ONCE THE AG HAS
SPOKEN WE SHALL BE COMMITTED TO GOING AHEAD. I SHOULD LIKE TO
BE SURE THAT MINISTERS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP TO DATE BY THEN.
GRATEFUL FOR CONFIRMATION DESKBY 18010OZ.
YOUDE
YYYY
HMLNAN 4679
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
RESEARCH DEPT (FE)
DEP/HD/PUSD PS/MR RENTON MR GILLMORE MR WILSON
COPIES TO:
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
Confidential
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