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HKK 04017
REGISTRY
2 5FEB 1985
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FM F C O 2217352 FEB 85
TO PRIORITY KATHMANDU
TELEGRAM NUMBER 17 OF 22 FEBRUARY
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG
YOUR TELNO 20: HOUSE OF LORDS DEBATE ON HONG KONG
1.
PA
2
Y
an
Gu 29/2
THE SECOND READING DEBATE ON THE HONG KONG BILL IN THE HOUSE
OF LORDS TOOK PLACE ON 19 FEBRUARY.
2. THE DATES OF THE REMAINING STAGES HAVE NOT YET BEEN MADE
PUBLIC, BUT YOU MAY TELL LORD KADOORIE IN CONFIDENCE THAT THE
COMMITTEE AND REPORT STAGES WILL PROBABLY TAKE PLACE ON 14 MARCH
AND THE THIRD READING WILL PROBABLY TAKE PLACE ON 28 MARCH.
3. WE ASSUME THAT LORD KADOORIE IS THINKING OF COMING HERE TO
SPEAK IN THE DEBATE, THOUGH WE DO NOT KNOW WHETHER HE IS THINKING
OF INTERVENING ON SPECIFIC POINTS IN THE BILL, OR MAKING A
GENERAL SPEECH. WE HAVE THEREFORE HAD AN INFORMAL WORD WITH
THE WHIP'S OFFICE, WHO HAVE OFFERED THE FOLLOWING ADVICE. THE
THIRD READING DEBATE IS NOT REALLY A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR EITHER
TYPE OF SPEECH, SINCE SPEECHES FROM THOSE WHO HAVE NOT
PARTICIPATED IN EARLIER DEBATES ARE NORMALLY EXPECTED TO BE VERY
SHORT (NOT MORE THAN THREE MINUTES). THE COMMITTEE STAGE
WOULD GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE POINTS OF DETAIL ON THE BILL.
IT IS NOT AN IDEAL OPPORTUNITY FOR A GENERAL SPEECH, THOUGH IT
MIGHT BE POSSIBLE FOR LORD KADOORIE TO SAY SOMETHING MORE GENERAL
ON THE 'CLAUSE STAND PART' DEBATES EITHER ON CLAUSE 1
(TERMINATION OF SOVEREIGNTY) OR THE SCHEDULE, THE MAIN POINT IN
WHICH IS NATIONALITY QUESTIONS. THE EXACT FORM OF THE COMMITTEE STAGE DEBATES IS HOWEVER UNLIKELY TO BE CLEAR UNTIL MUCH NEARER
THE TIME, WHEN PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, IF ANY, ARE KNOWN.
HOWE
MINIMAL
HKD
PS/LADY YOUNG
MR WILSON
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