CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 011/3
TOP
DIG
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 932
OF 171145Z MARCH 89
INFO PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG
·183
189
046153 MDHIAN 7214
YOUR TELNO 685: FAC: LINE OF QUESTIONING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE'S APPEARANCE 22 MARCH
1. IN PARA 4 OF TUR YOU INDICATE CERTAIN AREAS WHERE YOU WOULD APPRECIATE FURTHER BACKGROUND IN DRAFTING REPLIES:
(A) RATIONALISATION OF LEGISLATION IN HONG KONG. WE ASSUME THIS REFERS TO THE QUOTE LOCALISATION UNQUOTE PROGRAMME. THE PRESENT POSITION, WHICH YOU MAY WISH TO DISTILL INTO A LINE TO TAKE, IS AS FOLLOWS:
THERE IS A LARGE NUMBER OF UNITED KINGDOM ENACTMENTS THAT CURRENTLY APPLY TO HONG KONG. THESE UNITED KINGGDOM ENACTMENTS WILL NOT BE CAPABLE OF APPLYING TO HONG KONG AFTER 1997. IT WILL THEREFORE BE NECESSARY TO QUOTE LOCALISE UNQUOTE THEM BEFORE 1997, THAT IS, TO REPLACE THEM BY SIMILAR LEGISLATION ENACTED IN HONG KONG THAT CAN CONTINUE IN FORCE INDEFINITELY. AT THE EIGHTH MEETING OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP IN NOVEMBER 1987, THE TWO SIDES SETTLED THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES TO BE FOLLOWED FOR THE CONSULTATION ON LOCALISATION OF UNITED KINGDOM ENACTMENTS AND AGREED TO CONCENTRATE INITIALLY ON LEGISLATION RELATING TO CIVIL AVIATION, MERCHANT SHIPPING AND ADMIRALTY JURISDICTION. AGREEMENT WAS REACHED IN SEPTEMBER 1988 ON THE LOCALISATION OF UNITED KINGDOM ENACTMENTS RELATING TO ADMIRALTY JURISDICTION IN RESPECT OF CIVIL PROCEEDINGS. THE SUPREME COURT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1989, WHICH IS THE FIRST PIECE OF LOCALISED LEGISLATION, WAS ENACTED IN FEBRUARY 1989. FURTHER TALKS ARE BEING HELD AT EXPERT LEVEL BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES ON OTHER LEGISLATION REUUIRING LOCALISATION.
(B) PUBLIC ATTITUDE ON REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT. WE SUSPECT THATY YOU MUST BE AWASH WITH INFORMATION ON THIS SUBJECT BY NOW.
(C) CHINESE ACTIVITY IN HONG KONG: IT IS CLEAR THAT CHINESE
INVESTMENT IN HONG KONG IS LARGE AND INCREASING,
WHILE THERE ARE GUESSES SUGGESTING THAT THE CUMULATIVE TOTAL OF
1
PAGE CONFIDENTIAL