Sir Geoffrey Howe, with his humble duty to
The Queen, begs to draw attention to the Joint Declaration
of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland and the Government of the People's
Republic of China on the question of Hong Kong, under the
terms of which, subject to the necessary legislation being
enacted by Parliament, on 1 July 1997 Hong Kong will cease
to be a British Dependent Territory and become a Special
Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.
It is proposed that a Bill to give effect to this
agreement should be introduced into Parliament at an early
date. The Bill would affect Her Majesty's prerogative and
interests.
Sir Geoffrey Howe would wish to be in a position to
inform Parliament at the appropriate time that he has it
in command to acquaint the House that Her Majesty places
Her prerogative and interests, so far as they are affected
by the Bill, at the disposal of Parliament for the purposes
of the Bill. Would Her Majesty be pleased to approve?
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
5 December 1984
Grotten kowe