TNAG-1689-FCO40-2339-Hong-Kong-legislation-regarding-the-control-of-publications--1987 — Page 237

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

GINAOU

Return to:

L

Mr Larden HKD

Je 20/4/89

RESTRICTED

29/40

154

FROM:

A M LAYDEN

HONG KONG DEPARTMENT

APS/M. Reston

Mr Hum

Mr McLaren

PS/Mr Renton Good.

DATE: 28 April 1987

Uhr Hum

cc. News Dept

STRA

The Lakes 344

73674

HONG KONG: PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE

1.

& pa 301/

يا

The latest press summaries from Hong Kong suggest that the

anxiety about this ordinance seems to be dying down. There has been

good coverage of Mr Renton's meetings with the Hong Kong Journalists Association and Foreign Correspondents Club

especially

his assurance that there had been no Chinese pressure on us about

the matter and the Hong Kong media themselves seem to have

realised that it would be a dangerous precedent for HMG to disallow

the legislation.

2.

In a further effort to reassure public opinion, the HKG plan

and trusted to show to a small group of Hong Kong media representatives, in draft, the guidelines they have prepared for use by the prosecution

section of the Attorney-General's chambers in interpreting the new

Ordinance, and in advising the Attorney-General whether or not to

prosecute in particular cases. We have already been consulted about

the draft and have suggested some changes. The idea is that any

valid points made by the media representatives will also be taken

into account, and the guidelines will then be made generally

available to the media. A copy of the draft as it now stands is

attached.

3.

This seems to me a good and imaginative idea of the HKG.

AKDB01/1

RECCI

IND

3 CAPR 1987

987

DESK OFFICER

PA

Rebisint

Acuon taken mek

5/5

28/4

RESTRICTED

A M Layden

20710

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.