FCS/84/262
LORD PRESIDENT
CONFIDENTIAL
MICKO 4031
ISTRY
10 OCT 1984
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7 CM 10/10
la
123
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Hong Kong Dept
PS/ Lady Young Ps/Mr Luce
ps/m: Renton PS/PUS
Sir J. Freeland
Mr. Houston
FED News Dept
Sir. P. Cradock Srw Harding Parliamentary Unit Cat10.
Future of Hong Kong: Timing of House of Lords Débate
1. I have written to John Biffen seeking his agreement that
the House of Commons debate on the agreement on the future of Hong Kong should take place in the week beginning 3 December. That week is in practice the only option: to have the debate any earlier would compress the period of the test of acceptability in Hong Kong to an unreasonable degree; to leave it any later would run the risk of missing the deadline for signature of the agreement before the end of the year.
2.
I assume that the Lords will also wish to debate the
agreement. If so, and for the same reasons, I hope you can agree that the debate in the House of Lords should take place if at all possible in the same week, shortly after the debate
in the House of Commons. Janet Young would open and close
the debate.
3. I would be most grateful for an early indication of your views. I am copying this minute to the members of OD(K) and
Sir Robert Armstrong.
GEOFFREY HOWE
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
4 October, 1984