From the Secretary of State
HKD
LAST MEER
፡
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
25 June 1985
HKK 011112
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
· 1 AUG1985
DESK OF MOLA INDEX
PA
Du Jou
639
874
Thank you for your letter of 12 June concerning
the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Bill 1985 now before the Legislative Council in Hong Kong.
In your letter you asked what was happening with regard to the
Bill.
I have delayed replying to your letter, knowing that you were due to see Richard Luce yesterday to discuss with him the concerns about the Bill that have been expressed by the Hong Kong Bar Association, the Law Society and Justice.
I understand that Richard explained to you the background to the Bill, and told you both of the further amendment that the Hong Kong Government intend to move at the Bill's Committee stage and of the opportunity there will be for a further review in two years' time of the wider questions now raised by the three legal bodies in Hong Kong.
He has subsequently asked the Governor to ensure that a senior Government official was available for further
consultation with the three groups before the debate on
the Bill resumes on 26 June.
GEOFFREY HOWE
The Rt Hon John Morris QC MP