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CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 141800Z DECEMBER 84
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
TELEGRAM NUMBER 2495 OF 14 DEC
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
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RECEIVE
REGISTRY
18 DEC1934
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SPP 20/12
YOUR TELS NOS 3798 AND 3799: HONG KONG AGREEMENT: DRAFT BILL
1. THE BILL IS LIKELY TO BE INTRODUCED TO PARLIAMENT WITHIN A
DAY OR TWO OF THE LEGISLATION COMMITTEE MEETING ON 9 JANUARY. IT
IS TOO SOON TO HAVE MUCH IDEA OF WHAT THE PARLIAMENTARY TIMETABLE
THEREAFTER WILL BE. THE EARLIEST TIME BY WHICH THE PROCEDURES
COULD THEORETICALLY BE COMPLETE WOULD BE EARLY APRIL. IT IS
HOWEVER MUCH MORE LIKELY TO TAKE LONGER.
2. IT IS NOT NECESSARY FOR RATIFICATION TO TAKE PLACE
IMMEDIATELY LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURES ARE COMPLETE, AND WE COULD TO
SOME EXTENT TAILOR THE DATE TO SUIT YOU.
3. AS REGARDS YOUR TELNO 3799, THE BACKGROUND IS THAT THE ORIGINAL REQUIREMENT OF THE PARLIAMENTARY MANAGERS FOR AGREEMENT
TO A BILL WHICH WOULD HAVE TO BE PASSED BEFORE A CERTAIN DATE WAS
THAT IT SHOULD INCLUDE ONLY THOSE ELEMENTS WHICH WERE ESSENTIAL FOR RATIFICATION. THE NATIONALITY PROVISIONS ARE NOT ESSENTIAL
FOR RATIFICATION. PART OF THE PRICE OF AGREEMENT THAT THEY
SHOULD BE PUT INTO THE BILL IS THAT IF IT APPEARED LIKELY THAT
PARLIAMENTARY DISCUSSION OF THEM WOULD DELAY THE BILL BEYOND THE RATIFICATION DATE, WE SHOULD HAVE TO DROP THEM AND LET THE BILL GO THROUGH WITHOUT THEM. HENCE THE REFERENCE IN THE LETTER TO
PARLIAMENTARY COUNSEL. WE DO NOT IN FACT THINK THAT THERE IS ANY
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