TNAG-1688-FCO40-2338-Hong-Kong-legislation-regarding-the-control-of-publications--1987 — Page 78

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FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. WE FEEL STRONGLY THAT THIS IS AN INSTANCE

WHEN THE POWER OF DISALLOWANCE SHOULD BE EXERCISED AND THE

SECTION REPEALED IN ITS ENTIRETY.

THANKING YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

ENDS

2.

HKD ARE REPLYING AT OFFICIAL LEVEL USING PARAS 2 AND 3

OF THE TEXT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S REPLY TO MR BIDDULPH (FCO

TELNO 854) WITH THE FOLLOWING CONCLUSION ADDED:

QUOTE IT FOLLOWS THAT WE DO NOT ACCEPT THAT THIS

LEGISLATION PRESENTS A THREAT TO THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH OR

THE PRESS IN HONG KONG AND THAT WE DO NOT AT THIS STAGE

SEE ANY CASE FOR THE EXERCISE OF THE POWER OF

DISALLOWANCE. (THIS WOULD BE A SERIOUS STEP WITHOUT

RECENT PRECEDENT, AND WITH PERHAPS UNWELCOME IMPLICATIONS

IN THE CONTEXT OF THE HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY HONG KONG

IS TO ENJOY AFTER 1997). UNQUOTE.

HOWE

OCMIAN 6747

HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HO INEWS D.

HD/FED

RESEARCH D. (FE)

DEP.HD/PUSD

PS/MR RENTON

MR MCLAREN

MR GILLMORE

COPIES TO:

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS

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