It is clear that they attach considerable importance
to this point and a row about it could well make the
conclusion of the agreement more difficult. But
before we do agree to insert the date of July 1985 into the Joint Declaration, we will need your agreement that
the necessary legislation can be completed by the end
of June 1985.
5.
We have in mind a short bill, essentially
dealing with the termination of British sovereignty
over Hong Kong as from 1 July 1997. We shall try to avoid the necessity for it to deal with other matters,
such as nationality, which might complicate its passage,
and are in my view better left until the dust settles
at a later date. We cannot however be absolutely certain
which aspects the bill will need to cover until we
complete negotiations at the end of September,
6.
>
Subject to your agreement I assume that we would need to prepare a paper for the Queen's Speeches and
Future Legislation Committee setting out the position,
with a view to giving instructions to Parliamentary
Counsel shortly after the initialling of the agreement
in September.
7.
I hope that you will be able to agree that it
would be possible to include a Hong Kong Bill in the
legislative programme 1984/85, and to put it through
all the necessary stages by the end of June 1985. I am writing separately to the Leader of the House on this
subject.
SECRET
18.