CONFIDENTIAL
5 -
There could be some parliamentary questioning of why it is
to legislate SO far in
necessary
advance for the termination of
of sovereignty.
The answer is that we need to legislate SO that we can ratify the
why we negotiated and concluded an agreement
agreement.
The reason
now rather than closer to 1997 was to give Hong Kong the certainty
that it needed if stability and prosperity were to be maintained and
if planning for the future was
be possible. The date on which
the termination of sovereignty will take place is known and is not a
matter for any further negotiation. There is therefore no reason to
avoid including the necessary provisions in the Bill.
uncontroversial
in
in
the House of
the Second Reading in the
Commons,
This clause proved to be
and no opposition to it was expressed
House of Lords.
CONFIDENTIAL