TNAG-2220-FCO40-3188-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Public-Order-Ordinance-1991 — Page 49

M (91) 43

CONFIDENTIAL

603

whether the

as

problem was sufficiently severe

to warrant engaging the Chinese in a major

row at the present time.

(e) Members were generally against consulting

China on the grounds that this is an internal

Hong Kong affair. But one Member suggested

there might be merit in asking an

emissary, one who was trusted by the

leadership, to privately explain the need for

to the Chinese. The timing of

that

these changes

such an approach

consideration.

would require very careful

DECISION

The Council ADVISED and the Deputy to the

Governor ORDERED that

since Members expressed varying views on

the Public Order (Amendment) Bill 1991

and displayed considerable apprehension

the Bill into the

about

introducing

Legislative Council in December 1991,

the

Administration

should reflect

further on the discussion in the Council

and revert in due course.