133
GRS 700
CONFIDENTIAL
DESK BY FCO 11113OZ
CONFIDENTIAL
134
HKK.000/2
FM HONG KONG 11100OZ FEB 85
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 320 OF 11 FEBRUARY
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
YOUR TELNO 232 : HONG KONG BILL : TIMETABLE
1. AS FAR AS PRE-RATIFICATION HONG KONG LEGISLATION IS CONCERNED,
THE REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR:
(A) LEGISLATION PROVIDING FOR MODIFIED ACCOUNTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR LAND REVENUE, CONSISTING OF:
(1) AN AMENDMENT TO THE PUBLIC FINANCE ORDINANCE:
(11) AN AMENDMENT TO THE AUDIT ORDINANCE: AND
(111) A LEGCO RESOLUTION UNDER THE AMENDED PUBLIC FINANCE
ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR THE RESTRUCTURING OF THE CAPITAL
WORKS RESERVE FUND
AND
(B) LEGISLATION TO ACCORD DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITIES AND PRIVILEGES
IN HONG KONG TO CHINESE MEMBERS OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP.
2. AS REGARDS (A), OUR PRESENT TIMETABLE (SET OUT IN PARA 14 OF
EXCO MEMORANDUM XCC (85)7) IS AS FOLLOWS:
PUBLICATION OF BILLS IN GAZETTE
W
- FIRST READING AND COMMENCMENT OF SECOND READING DEBATE
8 MARCH
13 MARCH
1 MAY
- CONCLUSION OF SECOND READING DEBATE, COMMITTEE STAGE
AND THIRD READING
15 MAY
PASSAGE OF DRAFT RESOLUTION.
THIS TIMETABLE TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE NEED TO INFORM THE CHINESE
IN ADVANCE OF OUR INTENTIONS AND TO GIVE THEM A REASONABLE TIME
IN WHICH TO REACT IF THEY WISH (MY TELNO 14). IT ALSO TAKES INTO
ACCOUNT (BUT ALREADY INCOMPLETELY THE FACT THAT THE FOUR
LEGCO SITTINGS ON 27 FEBRUARY, 27/28 MARCH, 17 APRIL AND 1 MAY ARE RESERVED FOR THE BUDGET, AND THAT NORMAL LEGCO BUSINESS IS
NOT TRANSACTED AT SUCH SITTINGS UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
3. AS REGARDS (B), THE LEGISLATION IS RELATIVELY STRAIGHTFORWARD
AND NON-CONTROVERSIAL. ALL THE NECESSARY STAGES COULD PROBABLY BE
COMPLETED IN TWO SITTINGS OF LEGCO AND, TO THAT EXTENT, THE TIMING
IS FLEXIBLE. (A DRAFT BILL IS UNDER PREPARATION AND SHOULD BE READY
SHORTLY.)
CONFIDENTIAL
14.