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The Government also undertook to in
introduce the preliminary draft well in advance of this date, to give time for Parliament and the people
of Hong Kong to assess it and to give their views. To meet this
commitment we are proposing that the debates on the White Paper should
take place around mid-December.
The Hong Kong Government have asked for a period of 8 weeks between
publication of the White Paper and draft Order and the first debates,
in order to allow time for opinion in Hong Kong to formulate. This
points to publication of the White Paper around mid-October. The Hong
Kong Government intend to publish it simultaneously in Hong Kong.
I am copying this letter and enclosures to other OD (K) colleagues out
of Committee, and also to John Biffen, John Wakeham, Bertie Denham and
Sir Robert Armstrong. I should be grateful to know whether you and
other recipients are content. In order to allow time for printing and
publication, it would be helpful if any comments could reach me by
11 October.