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CONFIDENTIAL
3871 1
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OCMIAN 3871
CONFIDENTIAL
OO HOKON
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
041400Z NOV
GRS 222
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 1729
OF 04140OZ NOVEMBER 85
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
203
HKK 01/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
8 NOV 1985
DESK OFFICER INDEX
PA
CE
BEGISTRY
Action Taken
YOUR TELNO 2168: LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL QUESTIONS
1. MINISTERS HAVE BEEN CONSULTED ON THE EXPERIMENTAL
ARRANGEMENTS PROPOSED IN PARA 3 OF TUR, AND SEE NO OBJECTION TO
SUCH A SCHEME IN PRINCIPLE. LEGAL ADVISERS SEE NO LEGAL OR
CONSTITUTIONAL OBJECTIONS TO WHAT IS PROPOSED, ALTHOUGH THEY
HAVE COMMENTED THAT THEY ARE UNAWARE OF ANY CONSTITUTIONAL
PRECEDENT IN ANY COUNTRY FOR A THIRD CATEGORY' OF
PARTICIPANTS IN THE WORK OF A LEGISLATURE, BEING NEITHER
MEMBERS NOR WITNESSES. THEY ANTICIPATE THAT AMENDMENTS TO THE
LEGCO (POWERS AND PRIVILEGES) ORDINANCE WILL BE NEEDED, AS WELL
AS AMENDMENTS TO LEGCO STANDING ORDERS.
2. WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WILL NOW CONSULT WITH UNOFFICIALS
IN MORE DETAIL. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL TO KNOW THE OUTCOME OF
THESE CONSULTATIONS IN DUE COURSE. WE SHOULD ALSO BE GRATEFUL TO
SEE ANY PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE LEGCO (POWERS AND PRIVILEGES) ORDINANCE AND TO LEGCO STANDING ORDERS IN DRAFT, TO ENABLE US
AND LEGAL ADVISERS TO CONSIDER IN MORE DETAIL. AS YOU WILL REALISE
THE QUESTION OF THE PUBLIC PRESENTATION OF ANY AMENDMENTS, PARTICULARLY TO THE ORDINANCE, WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT, BOTH
BOTH IN TERMS OF GENERAL HONG KONG REACTION AND IN TERMS OF
CHINESE SENSITIVITIES OVER CONSTITIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
HOWE
MINIMAL
нанко
MR WILSON
1
CONFIDENTIAL