RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
HKB 011 15
13 SEP 1990
Y
RECEIVER
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
FM FCO
TELNO 1626
IN
OF 04180OZ SEPTEMBER 90′′
I
TOP COPY
Q DIST?
76
155402 MDHOÁN 5956
PROSECUTION ACTION AGAINST UNITED DEMOCRATS OF HONG KONG: MP'S LETTER
1. BOWEN WELLS MP HAS BEEN IN CORRESPONDENCE WITH US ABOUT THE RECENT PROSECUTION ACTION OF LIBERALS IN HONG KONG FOR THE UNAUTHORISED USE OF LOUD HAILERS AND THE UNAUTHORISED COLLECTION OF MONEY. MR WELLS HAS COMMENTED THAT HE IS QUOTE ASTONISHED THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF THE COLONY IS EVOKING THE STRICT LETTER OF THE LAW ON SUCH MATTERS AS THE NEED TO OBTAIN PERMISSION TO USE A PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM. UNQUOTE. HE SUGGESTS THAT YOU COULD TAKE UP THESE ISSUES WITH THE ORGANISERS OF PUBLIC MEETINGS AND, ON AN UNDERTAKING NOT TO INFRINGE THE LAW IN THE FUTURE, TO WITHHOLD LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. HE HAS ALSO COMMENTED THAT TO PROSECUTE UNDER PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES, AND PARTICULARLY WHEN A REVIEW OF THE RULES IMPINGING ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION TAKING PLACE, SEEMS TO HIM TO BE INSENSITIVE AND TO DISPLAY A HOSTILE ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT TOWARDS DEMOCRACY.
2. WE WILL DEAL WITH THIS LETTER ON BROADLY STANDARD LINES. BUT WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMENTS ON THE SPECIFIC
POINTS HE RAISES.
3. WE HAVE ALSO NOTED FROM PRESS REPORTS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND A NUMBER OF PREVIOUS EXAMPLES OF CASES OF PROSECUTION FOR THE OFFENCES DETAILED. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU COULD PROVIDE US WITH ANY MATERIAL YOU HAVE ON THIS. WE WOULD ALSO BE GRATEFUL TO KNOW WHETHER YOU HAVE DONE ANY RESEARCH INTO WHETHER COMPARABLE LEGISLATION EXISTS ELSEWHERE.
4. TO ENABLE US TO MEET OUR DEADLINE, GRATEFUL FOR A REPLY DESKBY 070930Z.
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