TNAG-1688-FCO40-2338-Hong-Kong-legislation-regarding-the-control-of-publications--1987 — Page 108

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PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE.

1.

MR RENTON SAW WONG KWOK-WAH AND NIGEL ARMSTRONG OF THE

HKJA ON 31 MARCH. THE MEETING LASTED 45 MINUTES AND THE

ATMOSPHERE WAS CORDIAL.

2.

(A)

(B)

(C)

(D)

THE MAIN POINTS MADE BY THE VISITORS WERE:

EVERY ORGANISATION IN HONG KONG WHICH HAD EXPRESSED A

VIEW ON THE ORDINANCE WAS AGAINST IT

THE FEELING IN HONG KONG WAS THAT HMG HAD A

RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT HKG DID NOT TAKE STEPS

WHICH WERE CLEARLY WRONG.

LEGCO WAS NOT A FULLY ELECTED BODY, AND IT WAS QUESTIONABLE WHETHER IT WAS TRULY REPRESENTATIVE OF HONG KONG PEOPLE'S VIEWS. (THEY NOTED THAT ALL BUT ONE OF THE APPOINTED MEMBERS HAD SUPPORTED THE GOVERNMENT, AND WHEN IT WAS POINTED OUT THAT THE ELECTED MEMBERS HAD BEEN EVENLY DIVIDED, THEY SAID TWO OF THOSE SUPPORTING THE GOVERNMENT REPRESENTED CHINESE-ORIENTATED FUNCTIONAL

CONSTITUENCES, AND TWO OF THOSE ELECTED BY THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE HAD QUOTE AN APPOINTED BACKGROUND UNQUOTE, HAVING BEEN APPOINTED MEMBERS OF DISTINCT BOARDS.)

INSUFFICIENT TIME 6 DAYS

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HAD BEEN ALLOWED FOR

CONSIDERATION OF THE GOVERNMENT'S AMENDMENT TO THE BILL.

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