TNAG-2555-FCO40-3730-Hong-Kong-Bill-of-Rights-Police-Force-(Amendment)-Bill-1992-1992 — Page 42

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INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

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HONG KONG TELNO 1242

BILL OF RIGHTS: REVIEW OF LEGISLATION: POLICE FORCE (AMENDMENT)

BILL

1.

WE ACCEPT THAT THE CHANGES PROPOSED ARE MINIMAL AND THAT THEY ARE IN ANY CASE NECESSARY TO BRING THE EXERCISE ON POLICE POWERS INTO ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE BOR ORDINANCE.

2. BUT AS YOU WILL APPRECIATE, THE WHOLE SUBJECT OF THE MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC ORDER, INCLUDING THE ROLE OF THE POLICE, IS ONE OF SOME SENSITIVITY FOR THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. IN OUR VIEW IT WOULD THEREFORE BE SENSIBLE TO EXPLAIN CAREFULLY TO THEM WHAT IS PROPOSED EMPHASISING THAT THE CHANGES WOULD HAVE NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE ABILITY OF THE POLICE TO PERFORM THEIR DUTIES.

3.

IF AS YOU SUGGEST THE PROPOSALS ARE POLITICALLY NON-CONTROVERSIAL, THE CHINESE OUGHT TO BE PREPARED TO RAISE NO DIFFICULTIES. IF ON THE OTHER HAND, AND CONTRARY TO YOUR EXPECTATIONS, THEY SEE PROBLEMS IT WOULD BE BETTER TO FLUSH THEM OUT NOW RATHER THAN WAIT UNTIL THE PROPOSALS ARE CAST IN TABLETS OF STONE.

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