From The Minister of State
Richard Luce MP
i
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
30 January 1985
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112
Dean Christopher.
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In my speech winding up the debate on the Second Reading of the Hong Kong Bill on 21 January, I said that I would write to those Members whose points I did not feel that I had answered.
You asked why paragraph 2(1)(b) of the schedule used the word "may" instead of the word "shall". The word "may" is used in paragraph 2(1)(b) because acquisition of the new status by BDTCs is not compulsory. It will be for former BDTCS to opt for the new status. I can of course assure you that there is no suggestion that the Government will retain any discretion to deny that status to any person who opts for it and satisfies the conditions for its acquisition.
Christopher Murphy Esq MP
House of Commons
London
SW1A OAA
Ruile