CONFIDENTIAL
6
042113
MDHIAN 7348
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELNO 1557
OF 18050OZ MAY 91
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
CORRECTED VERSION
(CORRECTED VERSION)
(INFO ADDRESSEE ADDED)
HK B012 13
PEKING ADDED TO ADDRESS
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
YOUR TELNO 946 AND PEKING TELNO 688: PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE (POO)
WE APPRECIATE THE POINT ABOUT TIMING IN RELATION TO BOTH THE AIRPORT AND THE BILL OF RIGHTS (BOR). WE HAD IN ANY CASE DECIDED THAT THE AMENDMENTS TO THE POO SHOULD BE INTRODUCED INTO LEGCO ONLY AFTER THE ENACTMENT OF THE BOR. SINCE THE LATTER HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO 5 JUNE, WE DO NOT NOW INTEND TO INTRODUCE THE POO AMENDMENTS INTO LEGCO UNTIL 26 JUNE. WE SHOULD NEVERTHELESS LIKE TO CONSULT EXCO ON 28 MAY, ALTHOUGH THIS COULD SLIP A WEEK. WE WOULD THEREAFTER TIME PUBLICATION TO AVOID COMPLICATING THE AIRPORT TALKS.
2.
WE DOUBT THAT THERE WILL EVER BE A FAVOURABLE TIME TO INTRODUCE THESE AMENDMENTS FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF CHINESE REACTION. BUT THERE IS A REAL OPERATIONAL NEED FOR THESE AMENDMENTS, AND OUR JUDGEMENT IS THAT DELAY WILL NOT MAKE ENACTMENT ANY EASIER: WE BELIEVE THE LATTER PART OF THE CURRENT LEGCO SESSION IS THE MOST OPPORTUNE TIME TO TAKE THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION FORWARD. IT WILL BE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO GET THE AMENDMENTS THROUGH LEGCO AFTER THE CURRENT SESSION ENDS, AND THE DISCUSSION WHICH WOULD ENSUE IN A NEW LEGCO WOULD BE LIKELY TO ENGENDER EVEN MORE CHINESE SUSPICION OF THE AMENDMENTS.
3.
WE HAVE DELIBERATELY NOT PREDICATED ANY OF THE AMENDMENTS PROPOSED ON THE NEED FOR COMPATIBILITY WITH THE BOR. THEY ARE JUSTIFIED ON PRACTICAL, OPERATIONAL GROUNDS.
4.
WE WOULD INTEND TO FOREWARN THE CHINESE ABOUT THESE AMENDMENTS BEFORE MAKING THEM PUBLIC. WE WOULD OF COURSE ALSO NEED TO PLAN THE TIMING OF ANY SUCH APPROACH WITH THE AIRPORT TALKS IN MIND. IN DOING SO WE WOULD EMPHASISE THE POINTS IN PARA
7 OF OUR TELNO 1457.
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CONFIDENTIAL
Redacted under FOI exemption 27(1)
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