GRS 420
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FROM PEKING 170622Z JAN 95
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 63 OF 17/1/85
нск
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG AND UKMIS NEW YORK (FOR SIR E YOUDE)
MIPT: HONG KONG AGREEMENT: CALL ON ZHOU NAN
1. AFTER DISCUSSION OF THE NEW NATIONALITY TITLE, ZHOU WENT ON TO MAKE THREE HONG KONG POINTS.
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HONG KONG BILL
2. ZHOU REFERRED TO THE SECOND READING ON 21 JANUARY AND ASKED APPROXIMATELY WHEN BRITISH LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURES WOULD BE COMPLETED. I SAID THAT THIS WOULD DEPEND LARGELY ON DECISIONS YET TO BE TAKEN BY THE PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS MANAGERS.
3. ZHOU SAID THAT THE NPC WOULD PROBABLY MEET IN THE SECOND HALF OF MARCH TO COMPLETE CHINESE PROCEDURES.
LAND COMMISSION
4. ZHOU THEN SAID THAT HE HAD ALREADY EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT AFTER THE AMBASSADOR'S RETURN THEY COULD KEEP IN TOUCH ON MATTERS ARISING FROM RATIFICATION. IN HIS VIEW CERTAIN QUESTIONS REQUIRED EARLY CONSIDERATION. THE JOINT DECLARATION FOR EXAMPLE PROVIDED FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LAND COMMISSION WHICH SHOULD BEGIN WORK IMMEDIATELY AFTER RATIFICATION. HOWEVER, ONLY THE COMMISSION'S TASKS AND FUNCTIONS WERE SPELLED OUT. THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THE COMMISSION'S NAME OR COMPOSITION. SUCH QUESTIONS SHOULD BE RESOLVED BEFORE RATIFICATION SO THAT THE COMMISSION COULD BEGIN WORK IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER.
JOINT LIAISON GROUP
5. ZHOU CONTINUED THAT THE JOINT DECLARATION ALSO STIPULATED THAT THE JLG WOULD BEGIN WORK AFTER RATIFICATION. MUCH PREPARATORY WORK WAS NEEDED HERE TOO E.G. ON COMPOSITION, WORKING PROCEDURES, FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS IN THE FIRST YEAR, AGENDA. ZHOU, RECALLING ZHAO ZIYANG'S REFERENCE TO THE NEED FOR
CONFIDENTIAL
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