CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 1254
OF 041315Z JULY 90
CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 011 15
Y
RECEIVED IN
10 JUL 1990
Q DIST.?
[v
20
120226
MDHOAN 1899
YOUR TELNO 1860: MPS LETTER: ARREST OF UNITED DEMOCRATS IN HONG
KONG
1.
THE RT HON PADDY ASHDOWN MP HAS NOW WRITTEN TO THE PRIME
MINISTER ABOUT THIS ISSUE. WE ARE FAXING A COPY OF THE LETTER TO LEEKS (PS/GH).
2.
WE INTEND TO RECOMMEND THAT THE PRIME MINISTER SEND A SHORT REPLY ALONG THE LINES PREVIOUSLY USED FOR OTHER MPS. BUT THE LETTER DOES RAISE SOME FRESH POINTS WHICH WE SHALL NEED TO COVER
IN OUR ADVICE TO NO. 10. THESE ARE:
(A) PARA 4 THAT THE RELEVANT LAWS ARE FREQUENTLY VIOLATED
AND ONLY RARELY ENFORCED.
(B) PARA 5
S
THAT THE 5 INDIVIDUALS WERE SINGLED OUT.
3.
(C) PARA 6 THAT THE TIMING OF THE CHARGES, SOME THREE MONTHS AFTER THE EVENT, WAS DELIBERATE AND DESIGNED TO
DAMPEN EVENTS COMMEMORATING THE JUNE 4 INCIDENTS.
ON THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE LEGAL PROVISIONS USED WOULD VIOLATE THE BILL OF RIGHTS, OUR LEGAL ADVISERS CONSIDER THEY WOULD NOT. WE TAKE IT THAT YOUR LEGAL ADVISERS CONCUR.
4. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMENTS ON PARAGRAPH 2 ABOVE, DESKBY
09093OZ.
HURD
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
16
LIMITED
HKD
MR MCLAREN
DISTRIBUTION
16
PAGE
MR BURNS
1
CONFIDENTIAL
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