GR 200
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 141104Z DEC 84
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 3798 OF 14 DECEMBER
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
НКК
040153
153
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
47 DEC 1984
DESK OF
AGISTRY
53
INDEX
152.
YOUR TELNO 2487: HONG KONG AGREEMENT: DRAFT BILL.
བདག་དང་
ᄂ
59/12]
1. WE NOTE FROM YOUR TELNO 647 TO TOKYO THAT IT IS THE INTENTION TO INTRODUCE THE BILL IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE LEGISLATION COMMITTEE OF THE CABINET HAS MET IN EARLY JANUARY.
2. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW WHAT THE ESTIMATED PARLIAMENTARY TIMETABLE IS FOR THIS LEGISLATION AND WHAT YOUR BEST ESTIMATE IS FOR THE EARLIEST DATE BY WPICH IT MIGHT BE ENACTED. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT STEPS WHICH WE HAVE TO TAKE HERE TO BE READY TO IMPLEMENT PARTS OF THE AGREEMENT AS SOON AS RATIFICATION HAS TAKEN PLACE. THESE INCLUDE LEGISLATION ON DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITIES AND PRIVILEGES, FINANCIAL PROCEDURES AND POSSIBLE LAND LEASES. THERE ARE ALSO THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP AND THE LAND COMMISSION TO BE BROUGHT INTO EFFECT. FINALLY THERE ARE REVENUE IMPLICATIONS IN RESPECT OF MAJOR LAND TRANSACTIONS WHICH ARE IN AN ADVANCED STAGE OF NEGOTIATION AND WHICH WILL BE CONCLUDED IN THE FIRST THREE OR FOUR MONTHS OF 1985.
3. AT THIS STAGE WE ARE PLANNING ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT RATIFICATION WILL NOT BE BEFORE APRIL AT THE VERY EARLIEST, BUT FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW A DATE TOWARDS THE END OF MAY OR EARLY JUNE WOULD BE PREFERABLE.
YOUDE
[REPEATED AS REQUESTEDĮ
HONG KONG AGREEMENT
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 HARD ING
MR WILSON
SIR J FREELAND
MR J CROWLEY, PUSD
COPIES TO:(VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET
OFFICE
MR CARTLEDGE, CABINET OFFICE ER COLVIN, CABINET OFFICE
SIR P CRADOCK, NO 10 DOWNING ST SIR P CRADOCK, ROOM K195
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