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NOTE FOR THE PRIVY COUNCIL
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The Hong Kong Additional Instructions 1993 which were signed by The Queen on 20th June 1993 have never come into operation. They included, at the request of the Government of Hong Kong, two sets of amendments to the principal Royal Instructions in the one instrument. The first set gave the Legislative Council of Hong Kong the power to determine the arrangements for presiding in the Privy Council when the President is absent. The second set of amendments were required to implement proposals for constitutional change relating to elections to be held in 1995. The Hong Kong Additional Instructions 1993 were to be brought into operation in part upon publication in the Hong Kong Government Gazette and in part upon the day to be appointed for the holding of an election in 1995 to elect the Members of the Legislative Council. The instrument was, however, never brought into operation. Some provisions of the Hong Kong Additional Instructions 1993 which were to be brought into operation upon publication included provisions on constitutional change. consequence, the instrument could not be brought into operation as regards the amendments relating to the Legislative Council without also bringing into operation some of the amendments on constitutional change.
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The Government of Hong Kong are now anxious to bring into operation the amendments relating to the Legislative Council as soon as possible, but they do not wish to bring into operation the provisions on constitutional changes as yet while talks with the Chinese on the 1994/95 electoral arrangements still continue. The Government of Hong Kong have accordingly requested that the Hong Kong Additional Instructions 1993 be revoked and two instruments made. One would contain the amendments relating to the Legislative Council and would come into operation on publication which would be shortly after making. The other would contain the constitutional changes, part coming into operation on publication which would occur some time after the instrument on the Legislative Council was published, and in part coming into operation on the appointed day. As requested, two such draft instruments have been prepared and also a third instrument revoking the Hong Kong Additional Instructions 1993.
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