TNAG-2556-FCO40-3731-Hong-Kong-Bill-of-Rights-Societies-(Amendment)-Bill-1992-1992 — Page 87

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MDHIAN 068/

068116

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE F CO

TELNO 1083

OF 160701Z APRIL 92

TOP UG.

CMQ DIST?

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

(13)

HONG KONG TELNO 148 AND 1001: BILL OF RIGHTS: REVIEW OF LEGISLATION: PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO SOCIETIES ORDINANCE

PARA 8 OF OUR FIRST TUR PROPOSED THAT WE SHOULD BRIEF THE CHINESE ABOUT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE SOCIETIES ORDINANCE IN AN INFORMAL LOW KEY MANNER AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN AGREED BY EXCO BUT BEFORE INTRODUCTION INTO LEGCO.

2.

WE PROPOSE THAT THIS SHOULD BE DONE BY WAY OF THE POLITICAL ADVISER BRIEFING THE NCNA BETWEEN 5 MAY, WHEN WE INTEND TO CONSULT EXCO, AND 15 MAY, WHEN WE INTEND THAT THE BILL SHOULD BE GAZETTED PRIOR TO ITS INTRODUCTION INTO LEGCO ON 20 MAY. IT IS NOT A SUBJECT FOR CONSULTATION AND WE SEE NO/NO ADVANTAGE IN PUTTING IT THROUGH THE JLG MECHANISM AS WE ARE UNLIKELY EVER TO PERSUADE THE CHINESE TO TAKE A RELAXED VIEW. HOWEVER, WE THINK IT IS WORTH THE PA SEEKING TO GET ACROSS THE MESSAGE THAT WE WILL IN PRACTICE RETAIN OUR POWER TO PROHIBIT UNDESIRABLE SOCIETIES. IF WE LEFT THE CHINESE TO READ THE LEGISLATION ON ITS OWN THERE IS A RISK THEY MIGHT CONCLUDE WE HAD COMPLETELY DIVESTED OURSELVES OF POWERS IN THIS RESPECT, RATHER THAN REPHRASED THEM AS WILL BE THE CASE. THAT COULD EXACERBATE WHAT IS ANYWAY LIKELY TO BE AN UNFAVOURABLE REACTION.

WILSON

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