RESTRICTED
508
522
1
TOP COPY See 510
OCMIAN 0522
RESTRICTED
OO PEKIN
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
211510Z NOV
GRS 185
RESTRICTED
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 2693
OF 2115102 NOVEMBER 86
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
HKK Onli
RECEIVED IN WEMISTRY
0 8 DEC 1986
DECK OF.
INDEX
DISTRY
PA
Action Taken
PQ: CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
1.
MR DAVID ATKINSON HAS PUT DOWN THE FOLLOWING PQ FOR ORAL
ANSWER ON 3 DECEMBER:
QUOTE TO ASK THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND
COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, IF HE WILL MAKE A STATEMENT OF PROGRESS ON
DRAFTING A CONSTITUTION FOR HONG KONG. UNQUOTE.
2.
THE QUESTION IS UNLIKELY TO BE REACHED. WE PROPOSE TO
SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING DRAFT REPLY:
QUOTE HONG KONG'S CURRENT CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS ARE
CONTAINED IN THE HONG KONG LETTERS PATENT 1917 TO 1986 AND THE
HONG KONG ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS 1917 TO 1986. THESE ARRANGEMENTS
WILL END WHEN BRITISH SOVEREIGNTY AND JURISDICTION OVER HONG KONG
ENDS FROM 1 JULY 1997. FROM THAT DATE, HONG KONG WILL BE A
SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.
A BASIC LAW OF THE SAR IS NOW BEING DRAFTED BY A COMMITTEE OF THE
NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS OF THE PRC, IN CLOSE CONSULTATION WITH
HONG KONG PEOPLE.
3.
GRATEFUL FOR YOUR AND PEKING'S COMMENTS DESKBY 240900Z.
HOWE
OCMIAN 0522
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD|PRU
HD/HKD
HD/FED
RESEARCH DEPT (FE)
DEP/HD/PUSD
COPIES TO:
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
PS/MR RENTON
MR GILLMORE
MR WILSON