TNAG-2004-FCO40-2852-Hong-Kong-political-parties-1990 — Page 147

CONFIDENTIAL

a

024552

MDHOAN 0491

15

HKB 011

ECEIVED IN RECTORY

CONFIDENTIAL

25 JUN 1990

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

INDLA

TELNO 1103

OF 111635Z JUNE 90

毎

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM PAUL, HKD

PROSECUTION OF 4 MEMBERS OF THE UNITED DEMOCRATS OF HONG KONG.

1.

AS YOU KNOW COUR TELNO 1068 AND YOUR TELNO 1791) A NUMBER OF MPS HAVE WRITTEN TO US ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE DECISION TO PROSECUTE 4 MEMBERS OF THE UNITED DEMOCRATS OF HONG KONG FOR OFFENCES COMMITTED UNDER THE NOISE CONTROL ORDINANCE AND THE SUMMARY OFFENCES ORDINANCE (IE USE OF LOUD SPEAKERS AND COLLECTION OF MONEY). THESE LETTERS HAVE BEEN PROVOKED BY THE CATHOLIC INSTITUTE AND HONG KONG LINK.

2 =

BUT

THIS IS OF COURSE A MATTER FOR THE PROSECUTING AUTHORITIES, WHO MAY WELL BE IN POSSESSION OF FACTS NOT AVAILABLE TO US. AS SEEN FROM HERE, THERE DO APPEAR TO BE A SIGNIFICANT POLITICAL DISADVANTAGES IN THE IMPENDING LEGAL ACTION AGAINST INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PROMINENT IN THE TERRITORY'S POLITICAL LIFE, AND MEMBERS OF A POLITICAL ORGANISATION WHICH IS LIKELY TO TAKE ON A SUBSTANTIAL POLITICAL ROLE IN THE RUN UP TO THE 1991 LEGCO ELECTIONS. THE FACT THAT THE ALLEGED OFFENCES ARE, BY ALL ACCOUNTS, RELATIVELY MINOR, AND THAT THE INDIVIDUALS, IF FOUND GUILTY, ARE LIKELY TO ELECT TO GO TO PRISON RATHER THAN PAY THE FINE, IS ALSO WORRYING. THE AFFAIR WOULD APPEAR TO HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME A QUOTE CAUSE CELEBRE UNQUOTE WHICH, WHILE HELPING TO FURTHER THE POLITICAL CAREERS OF THE INDIVIDUALS

INVOLVED, COULD WELL EMBARRASS THE HONG KONG ADMINISTRATION.

3. A FURTHER IRONY IS THAT THE TRIAL WILL TAKE PLACE AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME AS THE BILL OF RIGHTS IS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THE CONTRAST AND APPARENT INCONSISTENCY BETWEEN THE TWO EVENTS WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE PICKED UP BY THE UK

MEDIA AS WELL AS IN HONG KONG.

THE MATERIAL PROVIDED IN YOUR TELNO 1791 WAS MOST USEFUL BUT

IT WILL BE HELPFUL TO HAVE AN ASSESSMENT FROM YOU OF THE POLITICAL AND PRESENTATIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF THIS AFFAIR.

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CONFIDENTIAL