CONFIDENTIAL
TIMING AND CONTENT OF LEGISLATION
* 22.
Following signature of agreement, Parliament will need to pass
legislation to implement its provisions before ratification can take
place. Agreement states that ratification will be before 30 June
1985. Precise content of legislation has yet to be determined.
ROLE OF EXCO IN NEGOTIATIONS
Unofficial
23. EXCO was fully consulted throughout negotiations.
Members expressed with greatest firmness their understandig of Hong
Kong's interests and Hong Kong opinion. Decision to initial agreement was taken in accordance with their advice to British
Ministers.
CONSULTATION OF HONG KONG OPINION?
24. EXCO have been fully consulted. Ministers have visited Hong
Kong to keep in touch with opinion, and have been kept closely in
touch with debate on future in Hong Kong. Views expressed in Hong
Kong were fully taken into account in negotiations.
INTERNATIONAL RESETTLEMENT OF THOSE UNWILLING TO STAY IN HONG KONG
25. Our firm intention, and that of Chinese government, is to make the agreement work and create conditions in which Hong Kong people will be able to continue living and working in a flourishing
community.
WHAT IF PARLIAMENT DOES NOT APPROVE AGREEMENT OR DECLINES TO PASS
LEGISLATION?
26. Hypothetical questions. In the White Paper HMG has commended
agreement to Parliament in very clear terms.
WHY DID YOU NOT PRESS FOR SOME FORM OF BRITISH ADMINISTRATION EVEN
UNDER CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY
27.
a
Did indeed press in negotiations for continued British administration after 1997. Only when it became clear that this was not attainable did we explore Chinese concept of Hong Kong as Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. Believe that present agreement fully provides for continuity of Hong Kong's systems and way of life.
CONFIDENTIAL
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