GRS 180
UNCLASSIFIED
FROM PEKING 0808392 FEB 85
TO IMMEDIATE FOO
TELNU 168 OF 8/2/85
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
HONG KONG BILL: CHINESE PRESS COVERAGE
132)
HKK040/20
никого
TOP CUPI
W
1. THE THIRD READING OF THE HONG KONG BILL ON 6 FEBRUARY WAS
REPORTED BY PEOPLE'S DAILY AND CHINA DAILY IN THEIR & FEBRUARY
EDITIONS DRAWING ON A 7 FEBRUARY NCHA REPORT. THE NOWA DESPATCH POINTED OUT THAT THE HONG KONG BILL PROVIDES FOR THE TERMINATION OF BRITISH SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE CEDED PARTS OF HONG KONG AND OF BRITISH JURISDICTION OVER THE WHOLE TERITORY AFTER 1 JULY 1997'': THAT MUCH OF THE DEBATE FOCUSSED ON BN(0) STATUS, THAT OTHER MATTERS COVERED INCLUDED THE SUGGESTION FOR AN ANNUAL HONG KONG REPORT: AND THAT MR LUCE HAD PLEDGED THAT HMG WOULD DO ITS BEST TO COOPERATE
WITH PARLIAMENT IN KEEPING BOTH HOUSES INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS
IN HONG KONG IN THE PERIOD BEFORE 1997. NONA ALSO REPORTED MR LUCE'S STATEMENT THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAD MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WOULD BE CONSULTED ON A WIDE BASIS AND THAT HMG WELCOMED THIS. THESE LATTER REMARKS WERE NOT PUT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE BASIC LAW WHICH WAS NOT MENTIONED IN ANY CHINESE
REPORT.
EVANS
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
MR J CROWLEY, PUSD
COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR KARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET
OFFICE
MR CARTLEDGE. CABINET OFFICE MR DRC CHRISTOPHER, CABINET OFF. SIR P CRADOCK, NO 10 DOWNING ST
MR EMERY. B4 HD CROYDON
MR HYDE, HOME OFFICE