CONFIDENTIAL
MDHIA
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781
REMAINING PROVISION,MISUNDERSTANDING CAN BE CLARIFIED.
Q5: HOW DID YOU ASSESS LOCAL PUBLIC REACTION? WHY NO CONSULTATION?
A5: HKG IN DAILY CONTACT WITH PUBLIC AND MEDIA IN A VARIETY OF WAYS AND AT A VARIETY OF LEELS. NETWORK OF DISTRICT OFFICES, FORMAL AND INFORMAL LINKS WITH MEDIA. FEEDBACK FROM ALL SOURCES INDICATES MAJORITY VIEW FAVOURS REPEAL.
Q6: REACTION OF LEGCO? MAJORITY VOTED FOR IT LESS THAN 2 YEARS AGO.
DID YOU DELAY REPEAL TO SAVE THEIR FACE?
A6: THE PROPOSAL TO REPEAL WILL BE CONSIDERED AND DECIDED BY
LEGCO AS IS ALL LEGISLATION. THE REASON FOR HOLDING THE REVIEW AT THIS TIME, AS INDICATED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY IN HIS LETTER TO MISS DUNN IN JANUARY, WAS TO ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME FOR US TO GAUGE THE EFFECTS OF THE LEGISLATION.
Q7: HOW WILL YOU DEAL WITH FALSE NEWS?
A7: BASICALLY RELY ON GOOD SENSE OF MEDIA. IF SOMEONE WERE TO DELIBERATELY PUBLISH FALSE NEWS, THE GOVERNMENT AND THE REST OF THE MEDIA WOULD QUICKLY MAKE KNOWN ALL THE FACTS. THE NEWSPAPER CONCERNED WOULD LOSE CREDIBILITY AND EVENTUALLY GO OUT OF BUSINESS.
Q8: WHO DID REVIEW? POLICE CONSULTED?
A8: ASIB IN CHARGE OF REVIEW. ALL OTHER RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS AND BRANCHES, INCLUDING POLICE, WERE INVOLVED.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
48
DISTRIBUTION
52
.HONG KONG AGREEMENT
.(RESTRICTED)
LIMITED
HKD
HD/FED
PUSD
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PS/MR EGGAR
MR GILLMORE
MR MCLAREN
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