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SECRET
DSR 11C
British Parliament, and will take months rather than
days. They continue to press us for date by which we
can agree to ratify, and we shall need to give them this
during September.
My considered view is that July 1985 is the latest date
at which ratification would be acceptable to the Chinese.
I have written to Lord Whitelaw about the exact timetable
of a Hong Kong Bill, but I should be grateful for your
confirmation that the pressure of business in the House
will not preclude us from putting a Hong Kong bill
through all its stages by the end of June. My best guess
at present is that the bill will not be controversial,
though it is likely to attract considerable interest.
We have in mind a short bill dealing with the termination
of British sovereignty over Hong Kong as from 1 July
1997. We hope that any other matters, consquent on the
agreement can be left until later. We cannot be sure
exactly what form the bill will take before the agreement
and its annexes have been finalised at the end of
September, but a paper on this matter will be prepared
for OD(K) and QL.
SECRET