CONFIDENTIAL

HKC370/8

27

125203

MDLOAN 3715

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG

TELNO 1072

OF 06113OZ JUNE 91

TOP COP Q DIST?

INFO ROUTINE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

13

Mr Berman

Deputy Legal

Adviser.

for (FA: HIC (Appeals) Bill.

вить

MY TELNO 403: COURT OF FINAL APPEAL: UK LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME

1.

THE FUTURE LEGISLATION COMMITTEE HAVE NOW MADE THEIR FINAL DECISIONS ABOUT BILLS FOR INCLUSION IN A FIFTH SESSION OF THIS PARLIAMENT. WHILE THEY ACCEPTED THAT THE HONG KONG CAPPEALS) BILL MIGHT NOT ATTRACT THE SAME DEGREE OF INTEREST AS THE BRITISH NATIONALITY (HONG KONG) BILL, THEY REMAINED CONCERNED ABOUT THE RISK OF DOMESTIC CONTROVERSY. THEY WERE ALSO NOT PERSUADED THAT THE BILL HAS TO PROCEED ON THE TIMETABLE WE ARGUED FOR. THE COMMITTEE HAVE RECOMMENDED THAT THE BILL BE INCLUDED IN A FIRST SESSION PROGRAMME.

2. THIS IS DISAPPOINTING. FCO MINISTERS DID THEIR BEST TO PERSUADE COLLEAGUES THAT THIS BILL SHOULD GO AHEAD NEXT SESSION. DEPENDING ON THE DATE OF A AN ELECTION, IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE STILL TO GET THE BILL THROUGH BY THE END OF 1992. GIVEN OUR CURRENT DIFFICULTIES WITH THE CHINESE, THIS MAY BE EARLY ENOUGH. BUT IF CFA NEGOTIATIONS SHOULD MOVE MORE QUICKLY, WE MAY FIND OURSELVES HAVING TO POSTPONE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CFA UNTIL THE BILL IS PASSED.

HURD

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

61

.HONG KONG AGREEMENT

.(RESTRICTED)

LIMITED

HKD

HD/FED

NEWS D

PLANNERS

DISTRIBUTION

65

PUSD

RAD

PS/LORD CAITHNESS

PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD

SIR J COLES

MR BURNS

PAGE

1

CONFIDENTIAL

5th session begins

Nov 91.

If dection in Autumn 91,

ression begins

Il decrian in

Nov 91.

Jure 92, 1

session begins July 1942 cw.shaft until recess).

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