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4. FOR THE TIME BEING WE ARE TAKING THE LINE THAT WHAT CAN BE DONE IN LEGCO IS SET OUT IN THE LETTERS PATENT, THE ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS AND THE STANDING ORDERS OF THE COUNCIL. THE NEXT SESSION HAS NOT YET STARTED AND IT WOULD BE PREMATURE AT THIS STAGE TO SPECULATE ON WHAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE SUBJECTS FOR DEBATE. ANY QUESTION ABOUT THE INCLUSION OF THE BASIC LAW ON
LEGCO'S AGENDA MUST BE REGARDED AS HYPOTHETICAL. (WHEN PRESSED
DIRECTLY BY THE PRESS THIS AFTERNOON ON WHETHER I WOULD APPOSE A
MOTION SUPPORTED BY A MAJORITY OF MEMBERS, HAVING FIRST REFERED TO THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT FOR DRAFTING THE BASIC LAW, I SAID THAT IT WOULD BE IMPROPER FOR ME AS PRESIDENT TO RULE ON ANY MOTION BEFORE IT HAD EVEN BEEN PUT DOWN.)
5. WE SHALL NOT, OF COURSE, BE ABLE TO HOLD THIS LINE INDEFINITELY AND IF, AS SEEMS LIKELY, MR LEE PERSISTS IN CALLING FOR A DEBATE WE MIGHT HAVE DIFFICULTY IN DENYING IT TO HIM, EVEN IF WE WISHED TO. WE WILL COMMENT FURHTER ON THE POLITICAL ASPECTS SHORTLY.
YOUDE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
LIMITED
XD/ HID
HD/ TED
HD/ PLANNING STAFF
HD/ PUSD
DEP ID/ PUSD
RESEARCH D (MR WALKER)
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/MR RENTON
PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING
DR WILSON
COPIES TO:
MR ROBERTS,
NEWS DEPT
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR MARTIN, ASSESSMENT STAFF,
CABINET OFFICE.
SIR P CRADOCK, NO.10 DOWNING STR.
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