CONFIDENTIAL
RECORD OF A MEETING BETWEEN MR LUCE AND OFFICIALS ON HONG KONG, AT
1600 HOURS ON 30 OCTOBER
PRESENT
Mr Luce, Minister of State
Sir P Cradock, DUSS
Mr Galsworthy, HKD
Mr Mound, HKD
Mr Hum, HKD
Mr Hoare, HKD
Mr Powell, HKD
Mr Osborne, APS/Mr Luce
3
ник 040/56
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
O 1 NOV 1984
DESK OFFICER
INDEA
PA
✓
REGISTRY
Action Taken
мил
PARLIAMENTARY REACTION
1.
Mr Luce said that the statement in the House of Commons on 25 October had been well received.
TEST OF ACCEPTABILITY
2. It was agreed that the test of acceptability was going quite well. Undue emphasis should not be given to the proportion of written submissions for or against. These should be seen in conjunction with the overwhelmingly favourable reaction to the draft agreement both in the Hong Kong press and in debates in official bodies such as LEGCO and the District Boards. Mr Galsworthy said that the department was preparing a submission on the form that the reports of the Assessment Office and the Monitors should take when published.
LEGISLATION
3. Mr Galsworthy said that we were not proceeding on legislation as fast as we had hoped. The Secretary of State had now agreed the outline of legislation with the Ministers most closely concerned. Once EXCO had commented a paper would be put to the Prime Minister and then to OD (K) and QL. We should aim to get instructions to Counsel by mid-November with the aim of introducing the legislation in early January. EXCO were currently discussing the proposed legislation. Sir S Y Chung had raised difficulties about our proposal to terminate sovereignity by a clause in the Bill rather
CONFIDENTIAL