138
The Friends of fong Kong Committee
Communications to: The Secretary 11 Green Park Prestwood
Officers
President: The Rt Hon. The Lord Chalfont,
OBE, MC, PC
Chairman: Dr K. W. Watkins
Bucks HP16 OPZ
Treasurer: The Revd Canon Trevor Page, MA Secretary: Ronald Baxter
The Rt. Hon. Sir Geoffrey Howe, P.C., Q.C.. M.P., Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
6 April 1987
.༥
TLDEIVED
22 APR 1987
IND!
NCER
PA
Mek
24/4
Dear Secretary of State,
The
by
the 1986,
undermentioned members, meeting on 2 April, noted the passage Hong Kong Legislative Council of the Public Order (Amendment) Bill, and the opposition to the measure by councillors, lawyers, journalists and much of the general public in Hong Kong. We are also aware of the critical comment about the Bill in the British media.
The Committee wishes to inform Her Majesty's Government that we view with concern any measure likely to affect adversely the Hong Kong press which has long enjoyed, under British administration, a degree of freedom that has been admired throughout Asia.
free
The Committee welcomes the repeal of most of the central provisions which existed in the Control of Publications (Consolidation) Ordinance but regrets the retention of the provision that deals with the publication of false
of We feel this clause could be used, to the detriment news. expression, at some future time, and that the Bill should be the subject further discussion and review between the Legislative Council and the concerned parties/associations in Hong Kong.
of
Yours sincerely
Khalten
K.W. Watkins Chairman
Smith,
Ronald Baxter
Charles Chen
Brian Crozier
Prof. H.S. Ferns
The Revd. Canon Trevor Page, MA Lt-Col. Samuel Pope, OBE
Vice Admiral Sir John Roxburgh,
KCB, CBE, DSO, DSC.,
James Shepherd Brigadier E.D.
CBE, DSO. Michael Turnbull
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