TNAG-1687-FCO40-2337-Hong-Kong-legislation-regarding-the-control-of-publications--1987 — Page 106

__HKD 301

2. & MAR 1987

A

GISTRY

von Taken

OCMIAN 4244

CONFIDENTIAL

OO HOKON

FM FCOLN TO HOKON

251645Z MAR

GRS 256

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 878

OF 251645Z MARCH 87

TOP COPY

Q DIST 7

CONFIDENTIAL

44244

1

OUR TELNO 854: PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE

1.

WE SHALL NEED TO PREPARE VERY CAREFUL BRIEFING FOR MR

RENTON IN THE EVENT THAT BIDDULPH AND THE FCC ACCEPTA THE OFFER

OF A MEETING ON 1 APRIL. WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT AT LEAST TWO

HKJA MEMBERS WILL ARRIVE HERE OVER THE COMING WEEKEND TO LOBBY MPS

AND UK PRESS ORGANISATIONS, AND THAT THEY MAY ALSO TRY TO SEE

MINISTERS.

2.

THE BASIC LINE THAT WE SHALL RECOMMEND THAT MR RENTON

TAKES WITH BIDDULPH IS SUMMARISED IN TUR. FURTHER USEFUL

DEFENSIVE POINTS ARE CONTAINED IN YOUR TELNO 998, AND IN THE

CHIEF SECRETARY'S AND ATTORNEY GENERAL'S SPEECHES ON 11 MARCH

WHICH YOU HAVE SENT US BY FAX. HOWEVER, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO

HAVE YOUR ADVICE ON A SUITABLE LINE TO TAKE IN ANSWER TO TWO

POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL LINES OF CRITICISM:

(A)

(B)

THAT INSUFFICIENT TIME (5 DAYS) WAS ALLOWED FOR PUBLIC

CONSIDERATION OF THE IMPORTANT AMENDMENT INTRODUCED BY THE

ADMINISTRATION AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE: AND

THAT AS PUBLIC CONCERN BECAME CLEAR IN THE LAST WEEK

BEFORE THE RESUMED DEBATE ON 11 MARCH, THAT DEBATE SHOULD

HAVE BEEN DEFERRED (OR THE BILL REMITTED TO CONSIDERATION

BY A LEGCO SELECT COMMITTEE) TO ALLOW FOR FURTHER PUBLIC

1

CONFIDENTIAL