CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Stone
1
have tent a
telm
136374
MDHIAN 6937
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
para 3 of the icns 434
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 734
OF 0710OOZ MARCH 91
altached itan paas
kee addressed?
INFO PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG
Tel eut on
first point in
fora 2..
fe hu
13/3
OUR TELNOS 434 AND 458 AND YOUR TELNO 420 : AMENDMENTS TO LETTERS PATENT AND ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS RELATING TO CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
1. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TUR. WE AGREE WITH THE FIRST ALTERNATIVE SET OUT IN PARA 1 THEREOF BUT WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND IT TO THE
FOLLOWING FORM:
''ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS
XXI (1) THE GOVERNOR SHALL BE PRESIDENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND, WHEN PRESENT AT A MEETING OF THE COUNCIL, SHALL PRESIDE.''
THE PRESIDENT OF LEGCO HAS MANY POWERS WHICH ARE EXERCISED OUTSIDE LEGCO MEETINGS. THE ABOVE FORMULATION WOULD LEAVE NO DOUBT THAT THESE POWERS BELONG TO THE GOVERNOR WHETHER OR NOT LEGCO IS MEETING. IF YOU ARE CONTENT WITH THIS FORMULATION, PLEASE INCORPORATE IT INTO THE PACKAGE OF LP AND RI AMENDMENTS TO
BE SUBMITTED TO THE PRIVY COUNCIL.
2. WE ARE STILL AWAITING YOUR RESPONSE TO OUR FIRST TUR, PARTICULARLY PARAS 3 AND 5 THEREOF. THE RESUMPTION OF SECOND READING DEBATE ON THE BILL OF RIGHTS IS NOW EXPECTED TO TAKE PLACE IN LATE APRIL. IT FOLLOWS THAT THE PACKAGE OF AMENDMENTS WILL NEED TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE PRIVY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL AT ITS MEETING ON 16 APRIL. AS THERE WILL BE NO EXCO MEETING ON 2 APRIL, THE AMENDMENTS MUST THEREFORE BE ENDORSED BY EXCO BY 26 MARCH AT THE LATEST. IN VIEW OF THIS TIGHT SCHEDULE, WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOUR VIEWS ON OUR FIRST TUR COULD REACH US BY 11 MARCH. THIS WOULD ALLOW TIME FOR FURTHER EXCHANGES OF VIEWS WHERE NECESSARY BEFORE FINALISING OUR SUBMISSION TO EXCO.
FORD
YYYY
PAGE 1 CONFIDENTIAL