CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY F C O
TELNO 3676
OF 211045Z NOVEMBER 91
TOP COPY Q DIST?
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
27
29
012214
MDLIAN 5908
HKP 812/3
OUR TELNO 3460:
1.
PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE
OUR PROPOSALS WERE PUT TO EXCO ON 19 NOVEMBER.
2. THERE WAS A LENGTHY DISCUSSION WHICH CENTRED ON TWO MAIN
ISSUES. FIRSTLY WHETHER THE PRESENT SITUATION POSED SUCH OPERATIONAL AND LEGAL DIFFICULTIES THAT AMENDMENTS ALONG THE LINES PROPOSED WHERE ESSENTIAL. SECONDLY THE LIKELY CHINESE AND LOCAL LIBERAL REACTION.
3.
MEMBERS EXPRESSED VARYING DEGREES OF ENTHUSIASM FOR THE AMENDMENTS. MOST RECOGNISED THAT THE PRESENT SITUATION WAS UNSATISFACTORY BUT A FEW MEMBERS THOUGHT WE SHOULD LIVE WITH THIS ON THE BASIS THAT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS WOULD PLEASE NO ONE.
4.
A MAJORITY OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WERE IN FAVOUR OF DEFERRING THE INTRODUCTION OF THE BILL FOR THE TIME BEING IN THE HOPE THAT THE PROBLEMS WITH CHINA OVER THE CFA WOULD GRADUALLY EASE AND RELATIONSHIPS IMPROVE. BUT MANY MEMBERS RECOGNISED THAT THERE
WOULD NEVER BE A GOOD TIME FOR SUCH A BILL.
5. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT SINCE MEMBERS EXPRESSED VARYING VIEWS AND DISPLAYED CONSIDERABLE APPREHENSION ABOUT INTRODUCING THE BILL IN DECEMBER, THE ADMINISTRATION SHOULD REFLECT FURTHER AND REVERT IN DUE COURSE.
FORD
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