+++ TEST TIME 17:37 +++
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RY
Jean Taken
FOR THE ATTENTION OF
ADVANCE COPY
fIVED
THE RT HON SIR GEOFFREY HOWE, QC, MP
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
FROM:
SIR EDWARD PICKERING
D 30
RECEIVI
VICE CHAIRMAN, TIMES NEWSPAPERS LTD
2 OMAR 1987
200 GRAYS INN ROAD,
LONDON WC1X SEZ
INDS
REGRY
Len Taken
DATE:
13 MARCH 1987
AT THE REQUEST OF LORD ARDWICK, CHAIRMAN OF THE PRESS FREEDOM COMMITTEE OF THE COMMONWEALTH PRESS UNION, I AM SENDING YOU
A COPY OF A MESSAGE THAT WAS SENT TODAY TO THE ACTING GOVERNOR
OF HONG KONG.
THIS IS A MATTER THAT IS CAUSING ANXIETY AMONG A LARGE NUMBER OF OUR MEMBERS INSIDE THE COMMONWEALTH PRESS UNION.
TO:
HIS EXCELLENCY, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES
FROM:
DATE:
ACTING GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG
LORD, ARDWICK
CHAIRMAN, PRESS FREEDOM COMMITTEE
COMMONWEALTH PRESS UNION
13 MARCH 1987-
THE COMMONWEALTH PRESS UNION WHICH REPRESENTS 700 NEWSPAPERS AND AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH HAS READ WITH CONCERN, SOME OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE PUBLIC ORDER AMENDMENT ACT.
WHILE APPRECIATING THE GOVERNMENT'S UNDERSTANDABLE WISH TO REVISE AND UPDATE EXISTING LEGISLATION, THE COMMONWEALTH PRESS UNION SHARES THE MISGIVINGS EXPRESSED BY HONG KONG EDI TORS AND PUBLISHERS THAT THE LAW AS NOW AMENDED IS LIABLE TO BE USED TO PLACE NEW CONTROLS ON THE PRESS IN HONG KONG
AND ALSO TO HAVE CONSIDERABLE IMPLICATIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL
FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
THE COMMONWEALTH PRESS UNION HAS BEEN MADE AWARE THAT AMONG PUBLISHERS IN HONG KONG, THERE IS A STRONG FEELING THAT THE AMENDMENT HAS BEEN ENACTED WITH UNDUE HASTE. FOR THIS REASON
THE COMMONWEALTH PRESS UNION ADDS ITS VOICE TO THOSE URGING
A REVIEW OF THE NEW LAW AND WILL WISH TO REQUEST BOTH YOU AND THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, WHEN HE ARRIVES IN HONG KONG NEXT MONTH, TO RECEIVE OUR REPRESENTATIONS IN THIS MATTER
WHICH IS OF DEEP CONCERN TO OUR MEMBERS.
COMMONWEALTH PRESS UNION
HEN AND CHICKENS COURT
184 FLEET STREET
LONDON EC4A 2DU
ENGLAND
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