CONFIDENTIAL
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AGREEMENT. THESE CONCERNS HAVE ALSO BEEN FULLY DOCUMENTED IN THE REPORT OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE.
5. I DO NOT WISH TO GO OVER THIS GROUND AGAIN IN TODAY'S DEBATE FOR THE MOST PART, THEY DO NOT DIRECTLY CONCERN THIS BILL. BUT I CAN ASSURE THE HOUSE THAT THE GOVERNMENT HA THESE CONCERNS FIRMLY IN VIEW, AND WILL CONTINUE TO BEAR THEM IN MIND I OUR FUTURE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE, ARTICULARLY IN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP.
BUT
6. IN THIS CONNECTION I HAVE NOTED THE SUGGESTIONS MADE BY A NUMBER OF HON MEMBERS THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD MAKE AN ANNUAL. REPORT ON HONG KONG TO THE HOUSE AND THAT THERE SHOULD BE A DEBATE ON IT. I ENTIRELY ACCEPT THAT THE HOUSE WILL WISH TO BE INFORMED ABOUT DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG FULLY AND SPEEDILY WHEN THEY OCCUR. I CAN ASSURE THE HOUSE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE CARE TO REPORT TO THE HOUSE WHENEVER THERE IS ANYTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT. THERE IS NO RELUCTANCE ON OUR PART. I COUNSEL THE HOUSE AGAINST THE IDEA OF AN INSTITUTIONALISED ANNUAL REPORT AND DEBATE. I BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD TEND TO LEAD TO A RATHER RITUALISED ANNUAL DEBATE ON A HOTCHPOTCH OF ISSUES, AND PROBABLY MEAN THAT IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS WERE NOT PROPERLY DEBATED AS AND WHEN THEY OCCURRED. THIS IS NOT WHAT WE WANT. 7. SINCE OUR LAST DEBATE MY RT HON FRIEND THE PRIME MINISTER AND I HAVE VISITED PEKING FOR THE SIGNATURE OF THE AGREEMENT AND WE WERE ABLE TO RAISE A NUMBER OF THESE QUESTIONS IN DISCUSSIONS WITH CHINESE LEADERS. THE HOUSE WILL NOT EXPECT ME TO GO INTO DETAILS OF OUR DISCUSSIONS, BUT CHINESE LEADERS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL GAVE US SOLEMN ASSURANCES OF CHINA'S COMMITMENT TO FULLY IMPLEMENTING THE AGREEMENT AND OF THEIR INTENTION OF CONSULTING HONG KONG OPINION ON THE DRAFTING OF THE BASIC LAW. 8.
AS
FOLLOWING SIGNATURE, BOTH WE AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAVE TO SATISFY OUR RESPECTIVE CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS IN ORDER TO RATIFY THE AGREEMENT. THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE BILL BEFORE US TODAY IS TO ENABLE THE UNITED KINGDOM FOR ITS PART TO RATIFY. ITS LONG TITLE MAKES CLEAR, THIS IS 'A BILL TO MAKE PROVISION FOR AND IN CONNECTION WITH THE ENDING OF BRITISH SOVEREIGNTY AND JURISDICTION OVER HONG KONG'.
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CONFIDENTIAL