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Y
3. WE PROPOSE THAT, IN REPLY TO POSSIBLE SUBBLEMENTARY QUESTIONS, THE CHIEF SECRETARY SHOULD STICK TO THE LINE THAT HE CANNOT ANTICIPATE THE CONTENTS OF THE BILL. ON QUESTIONS CONCERNING TIMING, HE SHOULD SAY THAT THE BILL WILL BE PUBLISHED EARLY IN 1985, THAT THE BILL MUST BE PASSED BEFORE HMG CAN RATIFY THE HONG KONG AGREEMENT, AND THAT RATIFICATION MUST BE BEFORE 30 JUNE 1985.
4. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL TO KNOW DESKBY 08010OZ WHETHER YOU AGREE TO THE PROPOSALS IN PARAS 2 AND 3 ABOVE.
5. SEE MIFT FOR BACKGROUND.
YOUDE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
DEP HD/PUSD
RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER) PS
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING
MR WILSON
SIR J FREELAND
COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET
OFFICE
MR CARTLEDGE, CABINET OFFICE MR COLVIN, CABINET OFFICE SIR P CRADOCK, NO 10 DOWNING ST
MR J CROWLEY, PUSE
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