PP HONG KONG
GRS 298
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL RECEIVE
HKC 040 14
21
FM FCO 081230Z JAN 85
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 43 OF 8 JANUARY
ما
- 9 JAN 1930
Fir
17
1
HK GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES NEW YORK, BRUSSELS AND GENEVA
YOUR TELNO 51: HONG KONG BILL
1.
FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF THE STAGES THROUGH WHICH THE HONG
KONG BILL WILL PASS:
2.
(A)
HOUSE OF COMMONS:
FIRST READING. FORMAL INTRODUCTION OF THE BILL, WITHOUT
DEBATE, FOLLOWED BY PUBLICATION OF THE BILL.
(B) SECOND READING. THE OCCASION FOR FULL DEBATE ON THE BILL'S
GENERAL PRINCIPLES. THE CONVENTION IS FOR TWO WEEKENDS TO BE
ALLOWED BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READINGS.
(C) COMMITTEE STAGE. THE OCCASION FOR DETAILED SCRUTINY OF THE
BILL AND ANY AMENDMENTS.
(D)
REPORT STAGE. CONSIDERATION OF ANY AMENDMENTS INTRODUCED AT
THE COMMITTEE STAGE.
(E) THIRD READING. THIS IS USUALLY TAKEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE
REPORT STAGE.
3.
HOUSE OF LORDS:
(A) FIRST READING.
(B) SECOND READING. A MINIMUM OF TWO WEEKENDS IS USUALLY
OBSERVED BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND READINGS.
(C) COMMITTEE STAGE. THERE IS USUALLY A MINIMUM OF 14 DAYS BETWEEN THE SECOND READING AND THE START OF THE COMMITTEE STAGE.
(D) REPORT STAGE. THERE IS USUALLY AN INTERVAL OF ONE WEEK
BETWEEN THE COMMITTEE AND REPORT STAGES.
(E) THIRD READING. THERE IS USUALLY AN INTERVAL OF THREE SITTING DAYS BETWEEN THE END OF THE REPORT STAGE AND THE THIRD READING.
(F) IF THE HOUSE OF LORDS AMEND THE BILL IT IS REFERRED BACK TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION. ROYAL ASSENT IS
THEN SECURED.
4. THE TIMING OF THESE STAGES WILL DEPEND ON THE DECISIONS OF
PARLIAMENTARY MANAGERS, IN THE LIGHT OF SUCH FACTORS AS
PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS
AND MINISTERIAL AVAILABILITY. WE SHALL LET HONG KONG GOVERNMENT
REPRESENTATIVES KNOW THE DATE OF THE BILL'S INTRODUCTION AND
PUBLICATION ON 9 JANUARY. WE SHALL ALSO SEND THEM THE TEXT OF
THE BILL AS PUBLISHED.
HOWE
NNNN
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MR BURROWS
COPIES TO
HKGO
CONFIDENTIAL