OO PEKING
GRS
2500
I
HKK 040/2.
156
N. 8d.
CONFIDENTIAL
408 - 1
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 16175OZ JAN 85
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 110 OF 16 JANUARY
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKMIS NEW YORK (FOR GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG)
HONG KONG BILL: DRAFT SPEECH FOR SECRETARY OF STATE'S USE ON 2ND READING ON 21 JANUARY
1. GRATEFUL FOR YOU COMMENTS ON THE FOLLOWING DRAFT SPEECH BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE:
BEGINS
INTRODUCTION
1. I BEG TO MOVE, THAT THE BILL BE NOW READ A SECOND TIME. I HAVE IT IN COMMAND FROM HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN TO ACQUAINT THE HOUSE THAT HER MAJESTY, HAVING BEEN INFORMED OF THE PURPOSE OF THE HONG KONG BILL, HAS CONSENTED TO PLACE HER PREROGATIVE AND INTERESTS SO FAR AS THEY ARE AFFECTED BY THE BILL, AT THE DISPOSAL OF PARLIAMENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE BILL.
2. MR SPEAKER, THE BILL THAT IS BEFORE US TODAY IS SHORT, NEVERTHELESS OF HISTORIC IMPORTANCE.
3.
BUT
THE HOUSE HAD A FULL OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG ON 5 DECEMBER, AND I WAS HEARTENED BY THE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT WHICH MEMBERS ACCORDED TO IT IN APPROVING THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO SIGN IT. I AM CONFIDENT THAT IT PROVIDES SATISFACTORILY FOR THE CONTINUED STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG INTO THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY. AS THE HOUSE KNOWS, IT WAS SIGNED BY MY RT HON FRIEND, THE PRIME MINISTER AND HER CHINESE COUNTERPART PREMIER ZHAO ZIYANG IN PEKING ON 19 DECEMBER.
4. IT WAS CLEAR FROM THAT DEBATE THAT THE HOUSE SAW THE AGREEMENT AS A GOOD ONE AND ONE THAT MET THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. A NUMBER OF HON AND RT HON MEMBERS RAISED THE CONCERNS EXPRESSED IN HONG KONG ABOUT CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE
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CONFIDENTIAL