CONFIDENTIAL
04 213
181
- 3 APR 1985
249.040112
9274 -I
Mchutes
00 HONG KONG
GRS 149
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 011605Z APR 85
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 471 OF 1 APRIL
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RATIFICATION
1. WE UNDERSTAND FROM THE WHIPS THAT THE HONG KONG BILL IS
LIKELY TO RECEIVE ROYAL ASSENT ON 4 APRIL. THE BILL WILL
THEREFORE TAKE EFFECT FROM THAT DATE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
CLAUSE ONE WHICH IS OF COURSE DEPENDENT ON THE EXCHANGE OF
INSTRUMENTS OF RATIFICATION.
2. AS WE HAVE NOW PROPOSED TO THE CHINESE THAT INSTRUMENTS OF
RATIFICATION SHOULD BE EXCHANGED IN LATE MAY, WE ASSUME
THAT ROYAL ASSENT AT SUCH AN EARLY DATE WILL NOT CREATE PRESSURE FOR
EARLIER RATIFICATION. THERE ARE AFTER ALL A NUMBER OF
OUTSTANDING POINTS THAT WILL HAVE TO BE RESOLVED BEFORE WE CAN
RATIFY, INCLUDING MEMBERSHIP OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP AND THE
NEED FOR HONG KONG TO LEGISLATE TO PROVIDE PRIVILEGES AND
IMMUNITIES FOR CHINESE MEMBERS OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP IN HONG
KONG.
HOWE
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 HARD ING
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 MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET
OFFICE
MR CARTLEDGE, CABINET OFFICE MR D B C CHRISTOPHER. CABINET OFF. SIR P CRADDOCK, No. 10 DOWNING ST.
CONFIDENTIAL.
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