CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 040/53
Akk 04 Sh
RECEIVED IN REĢISTRY 17 DEC 1984
154
GR 250
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 141102Z DEC 34
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 3799 OF 14 DECEMBER
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
2487?
152/
YOUR TELNO 3487: HONG KONG AGREEMENT: DRAFT BILL.
и
19/12.
1. WE SHALL TELEGRAPH EXCO'S REACTION AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE ON 18
DECEMBER.
2. THERE IS ONE IMPORTANT MATTER ON WHICH THE SECRETARY OF STATE
WILL NEED TO BE BRIEFED.
3. IN THE FINAL SENTENCE OF PARA 6 OF THE INSTRUCTIONS TO PARLIAMENTARY COUNCIL IN THE LETTER FROM DARWIN TO ENGLE OF 13 NOVEMBER, THERE IS REFERENCE TO THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE PROVISIONS ON NATIONALITY OR MODIFICATION OF LAWS MIGHT RUN INTO PARLIAMENTARY DIFFICULTIES AND TO THEIR BEING DROPPED. IF THERE IS ANY RISK AT ALL OF THIS HAPPENING THEN IT IS IMPORTANT THAT EXCO SHOULD BE TOLD OF THIS BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE. AS YOU KNOW UNOFFICIALS ATTACH VERY CONSIDERABLE IMPORTANCE TO THE LEGISLATION TRANSFERRING SOVEREIGNTY ALSO DEALING WITH NATIONALITY. SINCE THE BILL WILL HAVE TO PROCEED QUICKLY THROUGH PARLIAMENT, UNOFFICIALS WOULD BE DISTRUBED IF ONLY A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT IMPORTANT CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE LEGISLATION AS A RESULT OF THE PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT, AND THEY HAD NOT BEEN ADVISED OF THIS POSSIBILITY WHEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE WAS HERE. WE SHOULD NOT RUN THE RISK OF A REPETITION OF THE TROUBLE WE HAD ON THE CHANGE FROM THE ORDER IN
COUNCIL PROCEDURE TO CESSION OF SOVEREIGNTY IN THE BILL.
YOUDE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT
REPEATED AS REQUESTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
DEP HD/PUSD
RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER)
PS
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING
MR WILSON
SIR J FREELAND
MR J CROWLEY, PUSD
COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT
MR PAKENHAM-WALSH, LEGAL ADVISERS, HOME OFF MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET
OFFICE
MR CARTLEDGE, CABINET OFFICE MR COLVIN, CABINET OFFICE
SIR P CRADOCK, NO 10 DOWNING ST SIR P CRADOCK, ROOM K195
CONFIDENTIAL