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FM FCO 141016Z MAR 85
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 402 OF 14 MAR
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
HONG KONG AGREEMENT : LETTER FROM JOHN MORRIS, MP
1. MR LUCE HAS RECEIVED A LETTER FROM JOHN MORRIS, MP ENCLOSING
THE FOLLOWING LETTER TO HIM FROM MR FRESHWATER OF THE LAW SOCIETY
OF HONG KONG.
BEGINS
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR LETTER OF 4TH FEBRUARY. I HAD
ALREADY NOTICED YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SECOND READING DEBATE
AND WE ARE MOST GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR HAVING RAISED THE POINT WHICH
YOU DID.
I MUST SAY THAT I FIND RICHARD LUCE'S LETTER TO YOU
UNSATISFACTORY. WHAT THE BASIC LAW WILL BE IS, EFFECTIVELY, A
WRITTEN CONSTITUTION FOR THE SAR. TO SAY THAT THE COURTS OF THE
SAR WILL BE OBLIGED TO DECIDE CASES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THAT
CONSTITUTION BEGS THE WHOLE QUESTION OF WHICH COURTS WILL
DETERMINE WHAT THE WRITTEN CONSTITUTION MEANS. DOES HE REALLY
UNDERSTAND THE POINT?
ENDS
2.
GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMENTS ON THE FOLLOWING DRAFT REPLY
DESKBY 150900Z:
BEGINS
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LETTER OF 6 MARCH ENCLOSING A LETTER TO YOU
FROM MR FRESHWATER OF THE LAW SOCIETY OF HONG KONG.
I AM SORRY THAT MR FRESHWATER FOUND MY LETTER TO YOU OF 30
JANUARY UNSATISFACTORY. THE POINT IS PLAIN ENOUGH. I SHALL TRY
TO CLARIFY THE MATTER FURTHER.
MR FRESHWATER ASKS WHICH COURTS WILL DETERMINE WHAT THE BASIC LAW
MEANS. I SAID IN MY LETTER OF 30 JANUARY THAT THE COURTS OF THE
SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION WILL BE REQUIRED TO ACT IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE BASIC LAW, WHICH WILL BE ONE OF THE LAWS OF
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