TNAG-1689-FCO40-2339-Hong-Kong-legislation-regarding-the-control-of-publications--1987 — Page 108

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WERE FOR REAL' COULD HAVE ANY EFFECT ON NATIONAL SECURITY AND/OR

PUBLIC ORDER.

4. *N VIEW OF THE FACT THAT THIS IS A MATTER AFFECTING HMG'S

OBLIGATIONS UNDER AN INTERNATIONAL TREATY, SHOULD BE MOST GRATEFUL

FOR CONSIDERED ADVICE ON THE FOLLOWING :

(A) IS EITHER OF THE FORMULATIONS SET OUT IN PARA 2(A) »N

CONFORMITY WATH THE COVENANT?

(B) IF NOT AND GIVEN THAT AS WE BELIEVE, LEGCO WILL NOT ACCEPT

AN EXTENSION OF THE FORMULATION TO #NCLUDE ''SECUR\NTY'' OR ''PUBL∙KC

ORDER** OR BOTH, CAN WE CONTINUE TO USE EITHER OF THE FORMULATIONS AND RELY UPON PLAUSIBLE ARGUMENTS THAT THEY ARE NOT

INCONSISTENT WITH THE COVENANT?

(C) HF SO, WHAT ARE THESE ARGUMENTS?

5.

IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP ON 14 MAY. OTHERWISE IT WILL BE ASSUMED

THAT A SERIOUS PROBLEM EXISTS WHICH WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO

RESOLVE. WITH APOLOGIES FOR THE SHORT NOTICE MOST GRATEFUL IF

YOUR ADVICE COULD REACH US BEFORE CLOSE OF PLAY AN HONG KONG ON

WEDNESDAY 13 MAY.

WILSON

YYYY

HMLNAN 2751

LIMITED

HKD

FED

INFO D. PS/MR RENTON MR GILLMORE

MR MCLAREN

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