CONFIDENTIAL
LIKKO 46 137
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
TO 1OCT 1984-
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
Y
Action Taken
24/10/12/23/00
GR
6486 1
118
PP HONG KONG
GRS 182
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 281635Z SEP 84
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1996 OF 28 SEPTEMBER
INFO PEKING
1.
YOUR TELNO 3069: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE
WE HAVE GIVEN PRELIMINARY THOUGHT TO THE WORDING OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS MOTION FOR THE DEBATE ON THE WHITE PAPER, BUT NO DECISION HAS BEEN TAKEN. THE MOST OBVIOUS PRECEDENT IS THE CASE OF THE DEBATE ON ACCESSION TO THE EC IN 1971, WHEN THE GOVERNMENT LAID A WHITE PAPER BEFORE THE HOUSE AND HELD A DEBATE ON THE FOLLOWING MOTION: 'THAT THIS HOUSE APPROVES HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT'S DECISION OF PRINCIPLE TO JOIN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ON THE BASIS OF THE ARRANGEMENTS WHICH HAVE BEEN
NEGOTIATED.'
2.
WE WILL BE CONSULTING FURTHER BUT THINK IT LIKELY THAT WE
SHALL PROPOSE SOMETHION THESE LINES, TOGETHER WITH SOME REFERENCE TO THE VIEWS OF HONG KONG AS DESCRIBED IN THE REPORTS ON THE LIST OF ACCEPTABILITY. IN OUR VIEW THE LEGCO MOTION CANNOT TO FOLLOW VERY CLOSELY THE MOTION WE PUT BEFORE PARLIAMENT, IN PARTICULAR IF, AS WE SUPPOSE, THERE IS LIKELY TO BE A FURTHER DEBATE ONCE THE RESULT OF THE TEST OF
ACCEPTABILITY IS KNOWN.
HOWE
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
LIMITED
HKD
FED
COPIES TO:
SIR P CRADOCK
MR DARWIN
MR FIFOOT
LEGAL ADVISERS
LEGAL ADVISERS
MR BICKFORD
LEGAL ADVISERS
1
CONFIDENTIAL