TNAG-2862-FCO40-4116-Article-XIX-(lobby-group-for-press-freedom)-and-Hong-Kong-Jo-1993 — Page 84

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TELNO 62

DESK OFFICER

OF 211857Z JANUARY 93

INFO ROUTINE PEKING

INDEX

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Action Taken

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YOUR TELNO 106 (NOT TO PEKING):THE HKJA AND ARTICLE 19 REPORT ON

HONG KONG

1. WE ARE GRATEFUL WHAT LINE YOU PROPOSE TO TAKE ON THIS REPORT. WE WONDER WHETHER IT MIGHT NOT BE BETTER TO DROP THE SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO THE REVIEW BEING UNDERTAKEN "AT THE REQUEST OF THE HKJA". WE THINK THAT THIS WOULD REDUCE THE CHANCE OF THE CHINESE

SEEING THIS EXERCISE AS A CONSPIRACY BETWEEN THE LIBERALS AND

THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.

2. WE ASSUME THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS WILL STUDY THE REPORT TO SEE IF ANY OF ITS DETAILED CRITICISMS ARE JUSTIFIED. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR A SIGHT OF ANY CONCLUSIONS.

ARTICLE 19 ARE LAUNCHING THE REPORT HERE IN THE JUBILEE ROOM AT THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. SIR DAVID STEEL, WILLIAM SHAWCROSS, EMILY LAU AND FRANCES D'SOUZA ARE ADVERTISED AS SPEAKERS. IT IS LIKELY

THAT THIS WILL GENERATE PRESS AND PARLIAMENTARY INTEREST HERE.

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LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT

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SIR J COLES

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