65
HKK 040/2.
CONFIDENTIAL
DESK BY 18090OZ
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 180145Z JAN 85
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 154 OF 18 JANUARY
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKMIS NEW YORK (FOR GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG)
516
YOUR TELNO 110: HONG KONG BILL: DRAFT SPEECH FOR SECRETARY OF STATE.
1. WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS:
(A) THE FIRST 7 PARAGRAPHS TOUCH ON A WIDE RANGE OF SUBJECTS IN A
RATHER DISJOINTED FASHION. IT WOULD IN OUR VIEW BE PREFERABLE
TO HAVE ONE SELF-CONTAINED REFERENCE TO THE AGREEMENT, THE
DEBATE ON IT, AND THE CONCERNS VOICED DURING THE DEBATE BEFORE
PROCEEDING TO DISCUSSION OF THE BILL ITSELF. ALTHOUGH THIS IS
NOT STRICTLY A POINT FOR US, THE LAST 2 SENTENCES OF PARA 6 SEEM UNDULY NEGATIVE. IT MIGHT BE PREFERABLE TO CONFINE OURSELVES
TO AN ASSURANCE THAT HMG GIVE THE HOUSE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
DEBATE HONG KONG WHENEVER QUESTIONS OF SUFFICIENT IMPORTANCE
ARISE.
-
(B) PARA 3 DELETE
OVERWHELMING'
-
ATTENDANCE IN HOUSE DOES
NOT SEEM TO JUSTIFY THIS.
(C) PARA 7, LAST SENTENCE: ADD ON A WIDE BASIS'' TO THE END OF
THIS SENTENCE.
(D) PARA 9: ADD 'AS FROM 1 JULY 1997''AFTER
JURISDICTION''
!
(E) PARA 16: AMEND 'INCLUDE PROVISIONS' TO READ PROVIDE POWERS''.
(F) PARA 20, PENULTIMATE SENTENCE: AMEND UNWILLINGNESS' TO READ
**WILLINGNESS''.
(G) PARA 23. SUGGEST PARAGRAPH BE RECAST:
''THESE ARE PROVISIONS NORMALLY INCLUDED IN LEGISLATION
WHEN THIS COUNTRY CEASES TO HAVE SOVEREIGNTY AND ARE
APPROPRIATE TO REMOVE FROM THE LAWS OF HONG KONG REFERENCES
WHICH ARE BASED ON A CONTINUING CONSTITUTIONAL RELATIONSHIP
WITH THIS COUNTRY.'' AVOIDANCE OF REFERENCE TO 'INDEPENDENCE'!
SEEMS ADVISABLE.
CONFIDENTIAL
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