TNAG-2286-FCO40-3289-Extension-of-Official-Secrets-Act-1989-to-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 26

CONFIDENTIAL

33

117050

MDHIAN 6564

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 3877

OF 17105OZ DECEMBER 91

TOP COPY Q DIST?

INFO ROUTINE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

32

HKB 440/1

YOUR TELNO 2073: OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT 1989: ORDER IN COUNCIL.

1. WE INFORMED THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TODAY (17 DECEMBER) THAT THE ORDER IN COUNCIL WOULD BE MADE DURING JANUARY. WE ALSO INFORMED THEM OF OUR PLANS FOR HANDLING PUBLICITY AND BRIEFING LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS.

2. MEMBERS FELT THAT JANUARY WOULD NOT BE AN OPPORTUNE TIME TO MAKE THE ORDER APPLYING THE LEGISLATION IN HONG KONG BECAUSE IT WAS LIKELY TO CAUSE AN UNACCEPTABLE REACTION FROM THE NEW LEGCO. CONCERN WAS ALSO EXPRESSED OVER POSSIBLE PUBLIC AND CHINESE REACTION. MEMBERS FELT THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER TO DELAY THE MAKING OF THE ORDER UNTIL ABOUT JUNE 1992, WHEN THE NEW LEGCO WOULD HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO SETTLE DOWN, AND WISHED TO BE CONSULTED AGAIN IN MAY.

3. WE HOPE THAT THIS POSTPONEMENT WILL NOT CAUSE YOU UNDUE INCONVENIENCE, AND SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS ON THE LOGISTICS OF MAKING THE ORDER IN JUNE FOLLOWING FURTHER EXCO DELIBERATION IN MAY. WE WOULD HAVE TO KEEP THE FINAL DECISION ON WHETHER TO ASK FOR AN ORDER IN COUNCIL UNTIL AFTER THE EXCO DISCUSSION IN MAY.

4. APOLOGIES FOR THE CHANGE OF PLAN.

WILSON

YYYY

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