TNAG-1815-FCO40-2576-Hong-Kong-Public-Order-(Amendment)-Bill-1988-1988 — Page 58

肇

YAFQ

The Ham, HKD

Thank

you.

CONFIDENTIAL

Savitary State

Blay

PA

17

From:

CO Hum

1/12

Hong Kong Department

Date:

HKD 301/2

SDEC 1988

30 November 1988

1

PS/Lord Glenarthur

Mr Gillmore

Mr McLaren

Mr Burns, News Dept

Private Secretary

PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE: REVIEW OF SECTION 27

Mr Forman

N2/12

W/3

%2

1.

I attach Hong Kong telno 4394, giving the text of a

self-explanatory press release issued in Hong Kong a few hours ago.

2.

The Secretary of State will recall the background. During

the interregnum between Sir Edward Youde and Sir David Wilson the

Hong Kong Government completed a review of certain press legislation. While most provisions were scrapped, it was decided

to retain one provision banning the publication of false news likely to cause public alarm. The decision caused a major confrontation

in Legco. It also attracted criticism from human rights lobbyists

and guardians of the free press in Hong Kong, in Britain and internationally. Considerable damage was done to Hong Kong's international image.

3.

Sir D Wilson decided long ago that the provision should be

reviewed as soon as he had a new legislative council, not associated

with the original controversial decision to retain it. The decision

to repeal the provision is a welcome one.

Cotten

CO Hum

CONFIDENTIAL