TNAG-2004-FCO40-2852-Hong-Kong-political-parties-1990 — Page 62

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 231100Z FCO

TELNO 2308

OF 230946Z JULY 90

35

HKB

31 JUL 1990

g

15

YOUR TELNO 1388: MP'S LETTER: CIVIL LIBERTIES

171525

MDHIAN 9820

TOP COPY

Q DIST`?

1. WE SUGGEST THAT YOU CONSIDER THE REPLY TO MR. BOWEN ALONG THE

FOLLOWING LINES:

QUOTE AS YOU ARE AWARE THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS REVIEWING THE

LAWS OF HONG KONG BY REFERENCE TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE

INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS AS APPLIED TO HONG KONG, WHICH HAVE FORMED THE BASIS OF THE HONG KONG BILL OF

RIGHTS BILL 1990 TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS ON

25 JULY 1990. LAWS WHICH HAVE A BEARING ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

AND FREEDOM OF PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY WILL NATURALLY BE SUBJECT TO THIS

PROCESS. HOWEVER I WOULD BE VERY SURPRISED IF ANY OF THE EXISTING

LAWS IN THIS CATEGORY WOULD IN FACT MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO CONDUCT A

PROPER ELECTION CAMPAIGN. THIS HAS NOT BEEN BORNE OUT BY EXPERIENCE

SO FAR AND I CANNOT IMAGINE HOW THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DIRECT

ELECTIONS IN 1991 WILL BE VERY DIFFERENT. UNQUOTE.

WILSON

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ΜΑΙΝ

MINIMAL

15

ADDITIONAL

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS

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DISTRIBUTION

16

HKD

1

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CONFIDENTIAL