Orry you
IKK 040/1
CEIVED IN REGISTRY
16 NOV 1984
980
GIS/L/1060
FROM: DIS (MCGLYNN>
TO: COMMISSIONER. LONDON (BROWN)
NOVEMBER 14, 1984
DESK OFFICER
DEX
PA
19/11.
RESEND
GENERAL DUTIES BRANCH HAS REQUESTED THAT YOU SEND THIS COPY TO MR GALSHORTHY AT THE FCO.
LAWYERS REFUSE TO SUPPORT 1997 DRAFT
BY LINDY COURSE
THE HONGKONG BAR ASSOCIATION HAS VOTED AGAINST SUPPORTING THE DRAFT AGREEMENT ON 1997.
THE BARRISTERS HELD A 2-1/2-HOUR CLOSED-DOOR MEETING IN THE SUPREME COURT ON THURSDAY AND THREW OUT A PROPOSAL TO SUPPORT THE JOINT DECLARATION.
THE REJECTION SURPRISED MANY PEOPLE, WHO REGARDED THE LEGAL SECTION AS ONE OF THE MORE SATISFACTORY PARTS OF THE WHITE PAPER.
ALTHOUGH THE LAWYERS EXPRESSED SOME MISGIVINGS OVER THE POSSIBILITY OF CONFLICT BETWEEN THE BASIC LAW AND THE CHINSES CONSTITUTION, THEY WERE MAINLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE QUESTION OF NATIONALITY,
THIS THORNY ISSUE IS EXPECTED TO TRIGGER A STORMY DEBATE BY MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT IN THEIR DECEMBER DEBATE AS IT WILL MEAN ANENDHENTS TO THE NATIONALITY AND IMMIGRATION ACTS.
THE HONGKONG BAR ASSOCIATION CHAIRMAN, MR HENRY LITTON,
QC. SAID HE WAS +VERY DISAPPOINTED+ THAT AN EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OVERWHELMINGLY DEFEATED A MOTION ASKING PARLIAMENT TO VOTE IN FAVOUR OF THE JOINT DECLARATION.
HE CITED A LACK OF TIME TO CONSIDER THE WHITE PAPER AS ONE REASON WHY THE BARRISTERS WERE UNABLE TO AGREE ON A RESOLUTION.