COYAAK
CONFIDENTIAL
HUEB 040/2.
WECEN
11 JUL 1988
FROM:
DATE:
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Secretary of State 128
Lilo.2
CO Hum
Hong Kong Department
6 July 1988
6
GUIL 1988
PS/Lord Glenarthur
PS/Mr Eggar
Mr McLaren 12 1
INDE
p.
Private Secretary
P RU
#
9
News Dep
Mr Paul Fifob 5
Legal Advisers
HONG KONG: HOUSE OF COMMONS DEBATE ON THE BASIC LAW
2
3
1.
I understand that there is still some doubt about whether the
House of Commons debate on the Basic Law will take place before the
summer recess, but that it is likely to be held on 15 July as originally planned.
2.
I submit the first draft of the opening statement by the Secretary of State. I have assumed that he will wish to focus very specifically on the Basic Law. I have however also included
material on the following subsidiary themes:
(i) the reception in Hong Kong of the White Paper on
representative government. This makes a good debating
point, but the material (paras 6-7) could be dropped if it
is necessary to shorten the speech;
(ii) Vietnamese boat people;
(iii) emigration and confidence.
I think it is right to anticipate that all these areas will be
touched upon in the debate.
CONFIDENTIAL