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HKE 440/1
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the necessary nitting para I below!
FROM: Miss S Brooks
Legal Counsellor K199 270 3069
Mr. Stone
ר
16/7
DATE: 16 July 1991
19
HKI
EXTENSION OF OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT TO HONG KONG
1.
I refer to Hong Kong telno 2236 of 12 July which arrived on my desk late on Friday afternoon. As you know it contains 3 pages of detailed drafting points. The Hong Kong Government have been exceptionally tiresome about this. Having sat around for 4 months, they issued their drafting instructions in the form of a possible draft Schedule to the Order in Council only this month and have expected us to rush it through at this Privy Council meeting (the last one before 15 September). Time consuming as the preparation of the draft Order in Council is, it is complicated by changes of mind by Hong Kong on matters of drafting. For example, they have changed their minds 3 times on the drafting of Section 11 paragraph 5. It is also made more difficult by points which are frankly wrong, for example, the question of the definition of "international relations"in section 3(5). I was able to discuss that this morning with David Edwards, Law Officer (International Law) Hong Kong and he agreed with me. In the light of all the points made by Hong Kong,it is as well that they have now agreed that the Order need not be made in July.
They
2. My comments on Hong Kong telno 2236 are attached. are adapted for use in a telegram but I suggest we fax them.
easier
Shelaph Brocks
S Brooks
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