TNAG-1690-FCO40-2340-Hong-Kong-legislation-regarding-the-control-of-publications--1987 — Page 169

558

GRS 1900

UNCLASSIFIED

FM HONG KONG

TO PRHORNTY FCO

TELNO 2688

OF 08110OZ JULY 87

Ние зак

RECEIV

10 JUL 1987

RY

a Take.

PA Joy/

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDONOR 15/2

мена

IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY, MR. MARTIN LEE ASKED:

WITH REGARD TO :

(A) THE RECENT PUBLICATION BY THE OUTLOOK MAGAZINE OF A STATEMENT ATTRIBUTED TO MR. LaN HOU, THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE, THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF DIRECT ELECTIONS IN 1988 WILL BE A BREACH OF THE SPRINTY OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, WHICH STATEMENT WAS DISTRIBUTED BY THE XINHUA NEWS AGENCY TO A NUMBER OF

JOURNALISTS HN HONG KONG AND, WHICH STATEMENT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DENIED BY MR. L HOU AS HAVING BEEN MADE BY HIM, AND

(B) THE PUBLICATION OF AN ARTICLE IN THE HONG KONG STANDARD ON 20 JUNE, 1987 ENTITLED ''KEEP YOUR NOSE OUT, BRITAIN TELLS CHINA'NIN WHICH CERTAIN STATEMENTS WERE ATTRIBUTED TO A FOREIGN OFFICE SPOKESMAN'' WHICH STATEMENTS WERE LATER DENIED BY THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE AS HAVING BEEN MADE BY THEM:

WILL THE ADMINISTRATION INFORM THUS COUNCIL AS TO THE FOLLOWING:

(1) WHETHER ANY PROSECUT MONS WILL BE INSTITUTED UNDER SECTION 27 OF THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE IN RELATION TO THE PUBLICAT HON OF EACH OF

THE SAND STATEMENTS WITH REGARD TO:

(A) THE FALSITY OF THE NEWS:

(B) THE PUBLICATION THEREOF: AND

(C) THE LIKELIHOOD TO CAUSE ALARM TO THE PUBLIC OR A SECTION THEREOF:

(2) WHETHER ANY INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CONDUCTED OR IS BEING CONDUCT- ED BY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN RELATION TO THE SAND

PUBLICATIONS?

2. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL GAVE THE FOLLOWING REPLY:

**SIR,

7

NO INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN, OR IS BEING INSTITUTED, IN RELATION TO THESE PUBLICATIONS. NOR CAN SEE ANY PROSPECT OF A PROSECUTION UNDER SECTION 27 OF THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE IN THE LIGHT OF THE FACTS DISCLOSED BY THE QUESTION.WHEN THE BILL WAS DEBATED LAST MARCH, THIS COUNCIL SUPPORTED THIS SECTION ON THE BASIS THAT IT WAS DIRECTED AT THE RRESPONSIBLE PUBLICATION OF BLATANT FALSEHOODS AND

I would