Rt Hon John MacGregor OBE MP
Lord President of the Council
Privy Council Office
London
SW1
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME 1991/92: FCO BIDS
Your letter of 26 April asked for comments on the priority and political importance to be attached to FCO bills which were awarded provisional fifth session places; an assessment of the likely content and length, political importance and state of preparation of FCO bills identified as suitable for a first session; and
arguments on the basis of which the FLG can reconsider
the case for a provisional place for the Hong Kong
(Appeals) Bill.
The Hong Kong (Appeals) Bill
I continue to attach substantial importance to a
place for this Bill in the 1991/92 legislative programme. As I and my colleagues have explained, the Bill, to remove the right of final appeal for Hong Kong people to the Privy Council, is an essential prerequisite to the establishment in Hong Kong of a Court of Final Appeal.
The Bill would be short (about 3 Clauses) and
NITACY