122491
CONFIDENTIAL
'ADVANCE COPY
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2258
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
OF 18094OZ JULY 90
157245
MDADAN 5509
Mr Fifoot or
1. is
2
Welcome
seems to have missed the point. we were talking smbout an sitation where
milices were to be
YOUR TELNO 1340 : BILL OR RIGHTS: AMENDMENT TO LETTERS PATENT
NT
upheld.
1 WE ARE CONTENT WITH THE SUGGESTION IN THE LAST SENTENCE OF PARA 3 OF TUR. WE SUGGEST THAT THE PROVISION SHOULD APPEAR AS PARA 3 OF ART VII.
2. AS REGARDS THE NEW TERRITORIES ISSUE, IF IT WERE ESTABLISHED BY A COMPETENT AUTHORITY (I.E. BY THE UNHCR OR BY THE COURTS) THAT EXISTING POLICIES, PRACTICES AND LEGISLATION IN RESPECT OF THE NT WERE NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE ICCPR OR THE BOR, WE WOULD HAVE TO AMEND THEM TO REMOVE THE INCONSISTENCY, AS EXPLAINED IN PARAS 60 AND 63 OF THE EXCO MEMORANDUM FAXED TO YOU ON 10 JULY. THE PROBLEMS ENVISAGED IN PARA 4 OF TUR SHOULD NOT ARISE.
3. WE HAVE AGREED THAT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT WILL NOT BE SUBMITTED TO THE PRIVY COUNCIL UNTIL THE AUTUMN. HOWEVER, WE SEE ADVANTAGE IN MAKING A PUBLIC STATEMENT, WHEN THE BOR IS INTRODUCED INTO LEGCO ON 25 JULY, ON THE BROAD OUTLINE OF THE AMENDMENT. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS.
WILSON
YYYY
3. I have no prothon
with this,
Grateful for your
news.
4
ADVANCE
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DISTRIBUTION
MR MCLAREN
MR BURNS