CONFIDENTIAL
(e)
ADAPTATION OF LAWS
Some Noble Lords have referred to paragraph 3 of the Schedule dealing with the adaptation of laws. They have
suggested that Orders under this paragraph might include,
important legislation to set up new institutions in Hong
Kong.
Indeed any
The purpose of this paragraph is not to deal with those crucial subjects for the future of Hong Kong.
legislation establishing institutions in Hong Kong would
need to be taken in Hong Kong by the local legislature. Our whole purpose is to ensure that by 1997 Hong Kong
legislation can be fully separated from United Kingdom
legislation.
Orders in Council under this paragraph will make largely
technical amendments connected with the termination of
Sovereignty and jurisdiction. They will deal for instance
with The Merchant Shipping Act 1894
The Judicial Committee (Amendment) Act 1895
The Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1908
I could go on.
[IF NECESSARY.
The Indian and Colonial Divorce Juris idction Acts
1926 and 1940
The Copyright Act 1956
The Fugitive Offenders Act 1967].
There are likely to be a very large number of such amendments during the next twelve years. Even if as many as possible were to be grouped together in Orders in
Council it would create a substantial amount of work for
Parliament under positive resolution procedures.
CONFIDENTIAL
e