CONFIDENTIAL
GRS 200
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 1073
OF 11093OZ APRIL 86
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
TOP COPY
YOUR TELNOS 553 AND 610 : AMENDMENTS TO THE LETTERS PATENT ON COMPOSITION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND LAND.
1. HAVE CONSULTED THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ON THE PROPOSAL FOR AN INCREASE OF UP TO 4 OFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THEY WELCOMED THIS IDEA.
2. AGREE THAT WE SHOULD THE THIS IN WITH THE PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE LETTERS PATENT N REGARD TO LAND DISPOSAL MATTERS. WE INTEND TO INFORM EXCO OF THIS LATTER ON 29 APRIL AND TO ISSUE FORMAL PROPOSALS TO THE CHINESE SIDE OF THE LAND COMMISSION ON 1 MAY. AS WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS ISSUE WITH THE CHINESE SIDE FOR SOME TIME, IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR THE LAND COMMISSION TO ENDORSE T BY THE END OF MAY, ALLOWING US TO SEND YOU THE FORMAL PROPOSALS BY, SAY, 13 JUNE.
3. ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT YOU WOULD NOT WISH TO APPROACH THE CHINESE AT TOO EARLY A STAGE ON THE ISSUE OF OFFICIAL MEMBERS IN LEGCO, THE TIMETABLE ABOVE SUGGEST THAT THEY SHOULD BE INFORMED OF OUR INTENTIONS ON THIS IN EARLY JUNE. THERE WILL OF COURSE BE NO PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF EITHER PROPOSAL UNTIL THEY HAVE APPROVED BY THE PRIVY COUNCIL .E. AT THE END OF JULY.
YOUDE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT : RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
COPIES TO:
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS
RESEARCH D (FE)
DEP/HD PUSD
PS/MR RENTON MR WILSON
CONFIDENTIAL
Ник
124/3
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
1 5 APR 1986
REGISTRY
Action Taken
DESK OFFICER
PA
AB 10/4.
3