TNAG-2863-FCO40-4117-Article-XIX-(lobby-group-for-press-freedom)-and-Hong-Kong-Jo-1993 — Page 13

17 June 1993

Miss F D'Souza Director

Article XIX

90 Borough Hill

London SEll 1LL

An Authen

to Red Mr Matte,

Amendment.

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HKD

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18/6

246/1

RECEIVE

16393

ISTRY

DESK CHA INDEX

+A

REGISTRY Action Taken

Foreign & Commonwealth

Office

29

London SWIA 2AH

From The Minister of State

Dear!

Thank you for your letter of 3 June to Douglas Hurd about

I am replying as the human rights in Hong Kong and China. Minister responsible for our relations with Hong Kong and China.

We share your concern about reports of human rights abuses in China. We deplore all such abuses, including the detention of students and others for the free expression, of their political beliefs and have repeatedly told the Chinese so, both in public and private. The Prime Minister, for example, raised human rights in his meetings with senior Chinese leaders, most recently with Vice Premier Zhu Rongji on 17 November last year. Douglas Hurd also raised human rights both bilaterally and on behalf of the EC with Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen during their meeting in New York on 25 September last year.

The Chinese authorities should be in no doubt

We will continue to press

about the strength of our views. them.

Your letter also refers to the question of press freedom in Hong Kong. I mentioned in my letter to you of 9 March the Hong Kong Government was undertaking a review of its press

It has found that laws. The review has now been completed.

the freedom of the press is secure under Hong Kong law. However some laws were found to be either obsolete or possibly

The Hong Kong government at odds with the Bill of Rights. intends to amend or repeal them, as soon as the legislative programme allows.

Article XIX's report on Hong Kong also argued for a Freedom of Information Bill. The Hong Kong Government agrees that the Hong Kong public should have greater access to official information but is not convinced that a piece of general declaratory legislation such as a Freedom of Information Ordinance is the right way to achieve this objective. also necessary to address the related questions of data protection and privacy.

It is

Alastair Goodlad

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