TNAG-1748-FCO40-2467-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1988 — Page 128

PTAAEO

CONFIDENTIAL

VISIT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO HONG KONG: 29-31 MAY 1988

BRIEF NO 16: PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE AND FILM

CENSORSHIP

Objectives

a) Public Order (Amendment) Ordinance

-

to emphasise the

Ordinance does no more than maintain the status quo.

b)

Film Censorship

-

to support the new Film Censorship

Ordinance.

Points to Make (Defensive)

[With OMELCO and others]

PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE

Provision is not a new one.

Hong Kong media remain as free

and outspoken in their comment as ever.

Hong Kong Government have decided to carry out a formal review at the end of the year. This fulfils their earlier commitment to review situation in light of experience.

FILM CENSORSHIP

Hong Kong Government consider, and we agree that they need some powers which can be used in extreme cases to control exhibition

of films.

Note that Ordinance was passed by substantial majority of LegCo. We believe that the recent amendment requiring account to be

taken of Article 15 of the International Covenant of Civil and

Political Rights should meet most objections to the earlier drafts

of Bill.

CONFIDENTIAL

Hong Kong Department

May 1988