TNAG-2863-FCO40-4117-Article-XIX-(lobby-group-for-press-freedom)-and-Hong-Kong-Jo-1993 — Page 21

HICC 246/1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

8 JUN 1993

Your Ref:

Our Ref:

DESK OFFICER INDEX

PA

REGISTRY Action Taken

Date: 8 June 1993

BY FAX

Foreign & Commonwealth

Office

(26)

London SWIA 2AH

Telephone: 071-

270-2655

Mr G.

Yeung

PAS (CA) 4

Constitutional Affairs Branch

Government Secretariat

Hong Kong

Rea gany

LETTER FROM ARTICLE XIX

(25

1. Frances D'Souza of Article XIX has written again to the Secretary of State (copy enclosed) asking for the repeal of laws which infringe press freedom and may be inconsistent with the Bill of Rights. As you know she has written before and on 3 February Mr Goodlad said that HKG were reviewing laws which might jeopardise press freedom and the case for a Freedom of Information Act, and that the review was close to completion. On 9 March Mr Goodlad wrote that the review was likely to be concluded soon and that HKG would issue a press statement announcing its findings.

2. I would be grateful for a n update on the present situation and a line to take for the draft reply. With apologies for the short deadline I would be grateful for a response by 11 June.

Youses

Ress

RAJ Bunten

Hong Kong Dept