SECRET
101101
MDADAN & 8
DEPLOY IF THE CHINESE PRESS ON WHY WE DID NOT DELAY OR WITHDRAW THE BILL IN RESPONSE TO JIANG ENZHU'S REPRESENTATION. ON THE BASIS OF PAST LEGAL ADVICE, WE BELIEVE THAT HKG CANNOT AT THIS LATE STAGE INFLUENCE THE TIMING OF THE BILL'S PASSAGE, WHICH IS ENTIRELY IN LEGCO'S HANDS. BUT WE ARE DOUBLE-CHECKING THIS WITH OUR LEGAL ADVISERS AND WILL REVERT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TOMORROW (25 MAY).
PATTEN
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
211
ADVANCE
.HK POLICY
PS
PS/MR GOODLAD
SIR J COLES
MR HUM
HKD//HD
FED//HD
LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BROOKS PS/PM
CAOFF//SIR R BRAITHWAITE (DIO)
NNNN
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