TNAG-1691-FCO40-2341-Hong-Kong-legislation-regarding-the-control-of-publications--1987 — Page 176

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 3635

OF 28052UZ SEPTEMBER 87

INFO PRIORITY PEKING

257

CONFIDENTIAL

нео

Lec 2014

RECEIVED:

MY TELNO 2690 FILM CENSORSHIP

- 5 OCT 1987

-

on Taken

LEGISLATIVE

275

128341 MDLIAN 8220

TOP COPY Q DIST ?

COUNCIL AD HOC

WE HAVE HAD FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH THE

GROUP. THE MAIN OBSTACLE REMAINS THE POWER TO CENSOR FILMS ON

POLITICAL GROUNDS, BUT THE MARTIN LEE CAMP APPEARS TO BE INCREASINGLY I SOLATED.

2. AT OUR MEETING WITH THE GROUP ON 2 SEPTEMBER, WE EXPLORED A

'COMPROMISE' FORMULA AS FOLLOWS :

WHETHER THERE IS A LIKELIHOOD THAT THE EXHIBITION (OF THE FILM) WOULS SERIOUSLY (UNDERLINED) DAMAGE GOOD RELATIONS WITH OTHER

TERRITORIES''

1

THIS WILL REPLACE THE 'S ERIOUSLY PREJUDICE GOOD RELATIONS ETC''

FORMULATION IN THE EXISTING DRAFT BILL. THIS NEW WORDING IS AN

ADAPTATION OF THE WORDING IN THE CURRENT CENSORSHIP REGULATIONS 1987 (DAMAGE GOOD RELATIONS) WITH THE ADDITIONAL WORD ''SERIOUSLY' '.

3. WE SEE NO PROBLEM EITHER FROM THE POLITICAL OR LEGAL POINT OF

VIEW AND INTEND TO AMEND THE FINAL DRAFT (WHITE) BILL ACCORDINGLY.

IN SO DOING, WE HOPE TO GAIN ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IN LEGCO WHEN THE BILL IS FINALLY INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATURE, EXPECTED TO BE A ROUND END OF 1987.

4. WE AIM TO GO TO EXCO ON 20 OCTOBER TO SEEK APPROVAL TO PUBLISH A SECOND VERSION OF THE WHITE BILL, FOR FURTHER PUBLIC CONSULTATION LASTING ABOUT 4 WEEKS. THEREAFTER THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS WILL TAKE ITS COURSE.

WILSON

Y Y Y Y