OCMIAN 1111
CONFIDENTIAL
PP HOKON
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
251440Z OCT
GRS 145
234
TOP COPY
CONFIDENTIAL
1111 1
ник
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
2 9 OCT 1985
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELNO 1668
OF 25144OZ OCTOBER 85
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
N/R
DESK OTS
INDEX
YOUR TELNO 2291: DEBATE ON BASIC LAW IN LEGCO
1.
WE ARE CONTENT WITH THE COURSE OF ACTION PROPOSED IN PARAGRAPH 4 OF TUR WITH ONE EXCEPTION. FOR TACTICAL REASONS WE SHOULD NOT WANT PEKING TO MAKE THE POINT THAT IN OUR VIEW IT IS PROPER FOR LEGCO TO DEBATE THE BASIC LAW. THE ARGUMENT THAT LEGCO HAS A LOCUS STANDI FOR SUCH A DEBATE, GIVEN THE CLOSE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE BASIC LAW AND THE JOINT DECLARATION, WOULD NO DOUBT STIMULATE THE REJOINDER THAT THE JD MAKES CLEAR THAT THE BASIC LAW IS A MATTER FOR THE NPC, AND POSSIBLY EVEN THAT THE JD IN ANY CASE IS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UK AND CHINA ALONE. WHILE WE IN NO WAY ENDORSE THE CHINESE VIEW, WE SEE NO POINT IN PROVOKING A STERILE ARGUMENT WITH THEM ON IT.
HOWE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT : RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
COPIES TO:
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS
RESEARCH D (FE)
D/HD PUSD
MR WILSON
CONFIDENTIAL
STR
Take
!
Page 240Page 241