TNAG-2708-FCO40-3914-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-and-Par-1993 — Page 107

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ARTICLE XIX REPORT ON HONG KONG: HOUSE OF COMMONS PRESS LAUNCH 22 JANUARY

1. The joint Article XIX/Hong Kong Journalists Association report entitled "Urgent Business: Hong Kong, Freedom of Expression and 1997" was launched at the House of Commons on 22 January. Presenting the report were: Frances D'Souza and William Shawcross of Article XIX, Sir David Steel MP, Jeremy Corbyn MP, and LegCo members Emily Lau and Christine Loh. Each gave a short speech and then there were a few questions from the press (mainly Jonathan Mirsky and Derek Davies). Around 40 journalists were present, together with Mark Fisher MP and Roger Sims MP of the Hong Kong Parliamentary Group.

2. The main emphasis of the speakers was on the repeal of those Ordinances identified in the Article 19 report as potentially damaging to freedom of expression in Hong Kong. It was claimed that while the present use of these was limited, these Ordinances could be used by the Chinese authorities after 1997 to impose press censorship and to restrict freedom of expression generally.

3.

Emily Lau made the main speech. She said that she and others would be campaigning for the repeal of these "draconian powers". The Article 19 report would be translated into Chinese and there would be a further press conference in Hong Kong on 4 February. The report would be distributed to MPs in Britain who hopefully would pressure the Goverment to scrap these powers. She and Christine Loh had spoken on 21 January to officials from the FCO who had commented that this would have to be done in Hong Kong. Emily Lau said that the UK Government should take a more positive attitude towards human rights and should not just leave it to Hong Kong. Mark Fisher said that the Secretary of State and the Government should be pressed to scrap the Ordinances in question.

There was a discussion of the Governor's constitutional proposals and of the prospects for the future of Hong Kong.

4.

Sir

David Steel said that the best time for a debate in the House of Commons on constitutional reform would be in March or April, soon

before the meeting between the Secretary of State and Qian Qichen. Emily Lau said a debate should be held as soon as possible - Hong Kong was looking for support from Parliament.

China believed that the Governor had only limited support in the UK.

5.

Christine Loh said that she did not agree with Sir Percy

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