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TOP COPY Q DIST ?
031113
MDHOAN 7893
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FM FCO
TO DESKBY 03010OZ HONG KONG
TELNO 295
OF 02162OZ FEBRUARY 88
нка 37311
ROYAL PREROGATIVE: PQ
1.
MR CAMPBELL-SAVOURS MP HAS TABLED THE FOLLOWING QUESTION. FOR A WRITTEN ANSWER BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO ASK HIM QUOTE IF, PURSUANT TO HIS ANSWER OF 1 FEBRUARY HE WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE EXERCISE OF THE ROYAL PREROGATIVE REQUESTED IN
RESPECT OF HONG KONG UNQUOTE.
2.
/
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION REFERRED TO WAS QUOTE WHAT
DIRECTION HE (SECRETARY OF STATE) HAS GIVEN TO OFFICIALS IN UNITED KINGDOM DEPENDENT TERRITORIES ON THE EXERCISE OF THE RIGHT OF CROWN PREROGATIVE IN THE COURSE OF THEIR DUTIES UNQUOTE.
THE REPLY WAS THAT CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR EACH TERRITORY VARY AND IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO GIVE A GENERAL ACCOUNT OF THE POSITION IN RELATION TO THE EXERCISE OF THE ROYAL
PREROGATIVE IN THE VARIOUS DEPENDENT TERRITORIES.
3.
4 -
THESE PQS WERE RAISED BY MR CAMPBELL-SAVOURS AFTER AN ARTICLE ENTITLED QUOTE THE ROYAL PREROGATIVE AS A THREAT TO THE RULE OF LAW UNQUOTE APPEARED IN THE INDEPENDENT ON 27 JANUARY. HE HAS A CONTINUING INTEREST IN THE ROYAL PREROGATIVE AND THE
INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES.
5.
WE PROPOSE THE FOLLOWING REPLY:
QUOTE THE CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR HONG KONG ARE SET OUT IN LETTERS PATENT AND ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS, WHICH ARE ISSUED FROM TIME TO TIME IN EXERCISE OF THE ROYAL PREROGATIVE. INSTRUCTIONS ON PARTICULAR MATTERS, SUCH AS THE CONCLUSION OF TREATIES, ARE ALSO ISSUED FROM TIME TO TIME UNQUOTE.
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GRATEFUL FOR COMMENTS DESKBY 090OZ ON 3 FEBRUARY WE HAVE
TO PUT UP AN ANSWER BY NOON ON THAT DAY.
HOWE
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