CONFIDENTIAL
priority. With regard to Serial D, the Government is committed to introduce legislation to implement the Protocol and it is desirable for this to be in force by mid-1993. It is not essential for serial C to be enacted by the time Mauritius becomes a republic in March 1992 and a delay of up to a year would be acceptable. With regard to Serial E, Ministers have decided to play the Court of Final Appeal issue long and it is now unlikely that a Bill will be needed in the 1992/93 Session. Serial F is contingent on the conclusion of the CW Convention and may need to be given priority if the Convention is concluded at the end of 1992. However, there is a strong case for responsibility for the Bill resting with either MOD or DTI since the implementation of the legislation falls clearly within the responsibilities of those Departments.
The above would suggest the following FCO bid in priority order: -
5.
1.
2.
European Communities Amendment.
Commonwealth Development Corporation.
Essential
Essential
Uncontroversial
3. Foreign Compensation Amendment.
4.
5.
Antarctic Environment Protection.
Mauritius Republic.
6. Hong Kong Appeals.
1.
Chemical Weapons.
Programme
Essential
Programme
Contingent.
6.
Particulars of the Bills are in the Annexes. Further details will be supplied at the Future Legislation Committee stage.
7. Recommendations will also be submitted separately at that stage on Bills of particular interest to the FCO proposed by other Whitehall Departments.
Chamberlain
KJ Chamberlain
CONFIDENTIAL