TNAG-1988-FCO40-2821-Public-order-ordinance-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 3

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Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1A 2AH

20 January 1989

Mr Kevin Boyle

Director

Article 19

90 Borough High Street

LONDON

SEL 1LL

MKD 301/2

Dear Mr Boyle,

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Please refer to your letter of 2 November 1988 enclosing Article 19's commentary on freedom of expression and information in Hong Kong. I apologise for the delay in replying. However I felt it wise to wait until we had received the full report of the session of the United Nations Human Rights Committee held in Geneva in November. We have now been able to discuss this, your commentary, with the Hong Kong authorities.

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We are grateful to you for sending us your commentary. We have a number of comments, relating both to its content and to developments since it was prepared. shall take them in the order that they arise in the text:

(i) Introduction, second sentence: it is more accurate to describe the administration of Hong Kong thus:

"The Head of the Hong Kong Government is the Governor. He has the ultimate direction of the administration of Hong Kong. He is advised on the development of policy and other matters by an Executive Council. Legislation is enacted and funds provided by the Legislative Council whose members also debate policy and question the administration".

(ii) Page 2, last paragraph. The names of both the previous and present Attorneys General are incorrect. The Hon. Michael Thomas, CMG, QC was the previous holder of the office and The Hon. Jeremy Mathews, CMG, JP is the present Attorney General.

The same paragraph refers to meetings held in late 1987 and early 1988 to discuss human rights. The Attorney General has many contacts with members of the legal profession and discusses many issues of mutual interest to lawyers in a variety of fora, both formal and informal.

/The purpose