CONFIDENTIAL
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124374
MDHIAN 7877
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عمل
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FIDENTIAL
: HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2084
OF 050747Z JULY 90
HKD241/1
12 JUL 1990
..ISTRY
on Taken
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, KRERG HONG KONG
PERSONAL FOR PAUL HKD FROM DEPUTY TO GOVERNOR
200
YOUR TELNO. 1256: VISIT OF MR MAUDE TO CHINA: BILL OF RIGHTS
1. THERE IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE EXPECTATION HERE THAT THE DRAFT BILL WILL BE PRESENTED TO LEGCO BY THE END OF JULY AS WE HAVE REFERRED TO THIS TIMESCALE ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. THESE INCLUDE THE PRESS CONFERENCE IN MARCH ON THE PUBLICATION OF THE WHITE BILL, THE GOVERNMENT PRESS RELEASE IN MAY ON THE EXTENSION OF THE CONSULTATION PERIOD AND MORE RECENTLY THE AG'S SPEECH CONCLUDING THE LEGCO DEBATE ON THE BILL OF RIGHTS ON 27 JUNE, WHEN HE CONFIRMED THAT THE BILL WOULD BE INTRODUCED INTO LEGCO ON 25 JULY. ANY DELAY NOW IS LIKELY TO BE PERCEIVED AS GIVING WAY TO CHINESE PRESSURE OR POSSIBLY LINKED TO MR MAUDE'S VISIT.
2. THE LIKELIHOOD OF AN ADVERSE CHINESE REACTION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN THE CONTEXT OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF OUR TIMETABLE FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF THE BILL INTO LEGCO BEFORE THE END OF THE CURRENT SESSION. CONFIRMATION OF THIS TIMETABLE WAS PASSED TO THE MFA ON 2 JULY (SEE PEKING TELNO. 969). THE SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS ALSO TOLD GUO FENGMIN ON 5 JULY THAT WE
?/HOPED TO INTRODUCE THE BILL BEFORE THE END OF THE SESSION.
3. EXCO. WE BELIEVE THAT IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT EXCO WILL ADVISE A DELAY IN THE PUBLICATION OF THE BILL AS MEMBERS HAVE BEEN MOST ANXIOUS TO SEE IT INTRODUCED IN THIS SESSION. IF THE BILL IS APPROVED BY EXCO, IT WILL BE GAZETTED ON 20 JULY AND WE WILL HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE SAME DATE TO EXPLAIN THE CHANGES TO THE WHITE BILL. THE LEGCO SITTING ON 25 JULY WILL ONLY SEE THE CS MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL WITHOUT ANY DEBATE.
FORD
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