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174615 MDHIAN 8308
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FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 687
OF 23090OZ FEBRUARY 90
116
Лор hOP CORE
KL
YOUR TELNO 419: IVORY: LEGISLATIVE TIMETABLE
INDLY
Hukc Isili
-8 MAR 1990
1. THE EXERCISE WILL MEAN BOTH NEW PRIMARY AND SECONDARY LEGISLATION NEITHER OF WHICH ARE LIKELY TO BE COMPLEX.
2. ONCE INTRODUCED INTO LEGCO WE ARE LARGELY IN THEIR HANDS BUT AT THIS STAGE WE DO NOT ENVISAGE DIFFICULTIES IN BRINGING THE NEW REQUIREMENTS IN ON TIME. OUR TARGET DATE FOR THE FIRST READING OF THE BILL IS 4 APRIL IN WHICH CASE ENACTMENT ON 2 MAY IS A REAL POSSIBILITY. IF WE MISS THIS DATE THE BUDGET SITTINGS WILL DELAY THE FIRST READING UNTIL 2 MAY AND ENACTMENT WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE BEFORE 16 MAY. IN EITHER EVENT THE LEGISLATION WILL COME INTO EFFECT WHEN THE RESERVATION EXPIRES.
3. IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT THAT THE LEGISLATION HAD NOT ENTERED INTO FORCE ON TIME, THE DAF CAN ACHIEVE THE SAME RESULT BY EXAMINING EACH AND EVERY APPLICATION FOR AN EXPORT LICENCE. HE WOULD BE BOUND TO CONSIDER EACH ON ITS MERITS, BUT, IN COMING TO A DECISION, CASE BY CASE, HE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT OUR INTENTION TO BAN INTERNATIONAL TRADE. THIS WOULD BE TEDIOUS, BUT SOMETHING WE WOULD HAVE TO DO.
4. WE ARE SURPRISED AT THE EFFECTIVE DATE STATED IN TUR - WE HAD ASSUMED THE SIX MONTH PERIOD WOULD START FROM THE 18 JANUARY (PARA 3 OF OUR TELNO 3706 OF 1989). GRATEFUL FOR A COPY OF THE TEXT OF THE RESERVATION ENTERED.
WILSON
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