GRS 250
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY FCO 27103OZ .
CONFIDENT.AL
FM HONG KONG 27093OZ JUN 25
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1289 OF 27 JUNE
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
TOP COPY
YOUR TELNO 903 : LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (POWERS AND PRIVILEGES) BILL
1. THE POWERS AND PRIVILEGES BILL COMPLETES THE MAIN AGENDA OF
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES NECESSARY TO SET UP THE NEW-STYLE LEGISLATURE IN OCTOBER. THE ELECTORAL (MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) BILL IS STILL BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE. THE ISSUES WHICH ARISE FROM THIS IN RESPECT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ARE SMALL AND THERE IS NO REASON WHY THEY SHOULD AROUSE CONTROVERSY ON THE SCALE OF THE POWERS BILL. BUT THERE IS NOW A MUCH GREATER DEGREE OF PUBLIC SENSITIVITY ON ALL
ELECTORAL AND LEGCO MATTERS AND A SUBSTANTIAL DEGREE OF POLITICKING.
WHILE THEREFORE THE RISK IS NOT HIGH AND WE SHALL BE GIVING ALL
THESE MEASURES CLOSE SCRUTINY WITH THE NEW CIRCUMSTANCES IN MIND,
THERE WILL FROM NOW ON ALWAYS BE THE RISK OF SQUALLS, JUST AS THERE
IS IN PARLIAMENT.
2. AN EXAMPLE IS THE REGIONAL COUNCILS BILL. THERE IS NO REASON WHY
IT SHOULD LEAD TO CONTROVERSY BUT SINCE IT DOES NOT MEET THE WISHES
OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK 100 PER CENT WE CANNOT ENTIRELY EXCLUDE THAT
THEY WILL CALL PUBLICLY FOR AMENDMENT.
3. A NEW ELEMENT EMERGED FROM THE LAST STAGES OF THE CONSIDERATION
OF THE POWERS AND PRIVILEGES BILL. THIS WAS THE CRITICISM DIRECTED
IN THE PRESS AND THE COUNCIL ITSELF AT THE ATTEMPT TO STIMULATE
INTERVENTION FROM LONDON IN WHAT WAS SEEN AS ISSUES ON WHICH HONG
HONG KONG SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO STAND ON ITS OWN FEET.
THIS RELATES TO MR. MORRIS'S INTERVENTION (YOUR TELNO. 888) SO
4. THE FINAL SITTING OF LEGCO FOR THIS SESSION IS SCHEDULED FOR
7 AUGUST.
YOUDE
LIMITED
HKO. PS
PS/MR LUCE
SIR W HARDING
De Wilson
HKK 011/12
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
2 7 JUN 1985
DESK
INDEX
Co
CONFIDENT.AL
67