CONFIDENTIAL
042014
MDHOAN 0795
5.
GIVEN THE DELAYS IN AGREEING AMENDMENTS, AND THE FACT THAT THE WAY FORWARD HAS NOT YET BEEN APPROVED BY MINISTERS, WE AGREED WITH THE HONG KONG DELEGATION THAT AT THE HEARINGS BEFORE THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE THEY SHOULD IF NECESSARY BE FORTHCOMING ABOUT THE VBP PROBLEM AND IF NECESSARY INDICATE THAT YOU KEEP THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE UNDER REVIEW, BUT SHOULD NOT/NOT SUGGEST THAT CHANGES ARE IMMINENT. AN ADVANTAGE OF THIS DELAY IS THAT WE SHALL NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE HRC'S COMMENTS (IF ANY) ON THE VBP PROBLEM BEFORE MAKING A FINAL
DECISION. THIS WILL BE HELPFUL, SINCE HONG KONG COURTS ARE LIKELY TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE HRC'S COMMENTS IN ANY DOMESTIC
CASES.
HURD
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
83
LIMITED
HKD
UND
DISTRIBUTION
83
PS/LORD CAITHNESS
PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD
SIR J COLES
SEAD
MR BEAMISH
LEGAL ADVISERS
NEWS D
PUSD
MR SLATER
MR BURNS
HD/FED
RAD
N N N N
3
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CONFIDENTIAL