TNAG-2286-FCO40-3289-Extension-of-Official-Secrets-Act-1989-to-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 42

CONFIDENTIAL

23

071017 MDHIAN 5487

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 15113OZ FCO

TELNO 2246

OF 151104Z JULY 91

AND TO IMMEDIATE PEKING

HKE 440 /

TOP COPY

Q DIST?

INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG

UL. AKO,

PERSONAL FOR PAUL,

FROM GOVERNOR.

YOUR TELNO. 1288: EXTENSION OF 1989 OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT TO HONG KONG.

1. OUR ORIGINAL AIM IN HAVING THIS ORDER THROUGH BEFORE THE LEGCO ELECTIONS WAS TO MINIMISE THE PUBLIC DEBATE, WHICH MIGHT HAVE PROMPTED A CHINESE RESPONSE.

2. IN VIEW OF THE DIFFICULTIES DESCRIBED IN TUR AND THE UPCOMING MINISTERIAL VISITS, WE ARE PREPARED TO RISK ANY UNFAVOURABLE PUBLICITY THAT A LATER EXTENSION BY ORDER-IN-COUNCIL MIGHT TRIGGER. I CONFIRM, THEREFORE, THAT I HAVE NO OBJECTION TO POSTPONING A SUBMISSION TO THE PRIVY COUNCIL UNTIL THE AUTUMN.

WILSON

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

60

.HONG KONG AGREEMENT

-

(RESTRICTED)

LIMITED

HKD

HD/FED

NEWS D

PLANNERS

ADDITIONAL

4

DISTRIBUTION

64

PUSD

RAD

PS/LORD CAITHNESS

PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD

SIR J COLES

MR BURNS

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CONFIDENTIAL