de
GPS 100
CYPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 010154Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY No. 52
→
TOP COPY
LAS.
RE:
20
A8)
-
4 FEB 1974
RICK 141
NEX
REF.
TO ROUTINE FCO TELNO 131 OF 1 FEBRUARY, 1974.
YOUR TELEGRAM NO 107 OF 28 JANUARY,
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WAS ASKED AT A PRESS CONFERENCE IF YOU
HAD SEEN (OR POSSIBLY BEEN CONSULTED ON) THE DRAFT BILLS. HE REPLIED THAT YOU HAD NOT SEEN THE BILLS AS SUCH AND IN DOING SO OVERLOOKED THE FACT THAT YOU HAD BY THEN RECEIVED THEM AS PART OF THE NORMAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL PAPERS, YOU WERE NOT, OF COURSE, FORMALLY CONSULTED ON THE ACTUAL DRAFTS AND THIS IS WHAT LED TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S ERROR, WHICH IS MUCH REGRETTED, HE DID, HOWEVER, CO ON TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT YOU HAD HAD BLAIR-KERR'S SECOND REPORT, THAT THERE HAD BEEN AN EXCHANGE OF VIEWS ON HIS RECOMMENDATIONS AND THAT YOUR COMMENTS HAD NATURALLY BEEN TAKEN
INTO ACCOUNT.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HKIOD
LEGAL ADVISERS
PS TO MK BLAKER
SIR D WATSON AR YOUDE
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE 6 GRAFTON STREET W 1,
CONFIDENTIAL