Mr Paul
CONFIDENTIAL
AMENDMENT TO THE LETTERS PATENT
56
File!
HKB 01216
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
25 JUN 1990
ESK OFFICER
INDEX
BA
FROM: M V stone
Hong Kong Department
DATE: 15 June 1990
cc: Ms Major
A
B
1. Mr Fifoot's comments on Hong Kong's proposed amendments to the Letters Patent have now arrived (copy attached) and I
had hoped to be able to incorporate his comments in the
attached telegram to Hong Kong.
think this is possible.
Unfortunately I do not
2. Mr Fifoot raises two areas of comments: on the
amendments proposed by Hong Kong; and harping back to his
usual theme for reserve powers for the Governor and the
disappliance of section 5 of the Colonial Laws Validity Act.
3.
Dealing first with his comments on amendments to the
Letters Patent (copy of relevant sections attached), I have no problem with his para 2. However I am puzzled by his para 3 because the existing Letters Patent article VII (2)
already contains what appears to be a very similar phrase to
that proposed by Mr Fifoot which already takes account of his points. As regards the Additional Instructions (which
apply to the Royal Instructions) I disagree with Mr Fifoot's
para 9 in that I believe it is necessary to have the power
for the Deputy President to be "disallowed". Such
ROFAKY
CONFIDENTIAL