TNAG-2220-FCO40-3188-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Public-Order-Ordinance-1991 — Page 104

CONFIDENTIAL

HKB 01213

(3)

022030

MDHIAN 6423

CONFIDENTIAL

FM PEKING

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 688

OF 14080OZ MAY 91

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

TOP COPY Q DOT?

HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR ACTING GOVERNOR

HONG KONG TELNO 1457: PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE (POO)

1.

WHILE I APPRECIATE THE DESIRE TO RATIONALISE AN OBSOLETE, AND IN SOME WAYS EMBARRASSING, AREA OF HONG KONG LAW, I HAVE SEVERE DOUBTS ABOUT THE TIMING PROPOSED IN TUR. PARA 6 OF TUR CLEARLY SPELLS OUT CHINESE SENSITIVITIES. WE ARE CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN DELICATE AND COMPLICATED DISCUSSIONS BOTH OVER PADS AND THE GENERAL QUESTION OF THE NATURE OF CONSULTATION IN THE RUN UP TO 1997. THE AMENDMENTS TO THE POO PROPOSED IN TUR STRIKE ME AS AN UNNECESSARY PROVOCATION TO PEKING, PARTICULARLY SINCE, ACCORDING TO PARA 2 OF TUR, THE POLICE HAVE SO FAR BEEN ABLE TO ''MANAGE THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND IN A FLEXIBLE MANNER'', I AM PARTICULARLY CONCERNED THAT THERE IS NO/NO SUGGESTION IN TUR THAT WE SHOULD FOREWARN THE CHINESE. ALL IN ALL THIS HAS THE MAKINGS OF A TSING MA BRIDGE - DO WE REALLY WANT TO GO DOWN THAT

ROAD AGAIN?

■

COATES

YYYY

MAIN

61

.HONG KONG AGREEMENT

.(RESTRICTED)

LIMITED

HKD

HD/FED

NEWS D PLANNERS

DISTRIBUTION

65

PUSD

RAD

PS/LORD CAITHNESS

PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD

SIR J COLES

MR BURNS

PAGE 1 CONFIDENTIAL