FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1985
+MR MACLEOD, DIRECTOR OF TRADE, WHO IS IN WASHINGTON, WILL REVIEW THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS MOVE WITH MR WILLIAM DORWARD AND MR PETER LO, AND WITH OUR ADVISERS IN THE U.S.
+WE HAVE IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS ALLOCATED MUCH OF OUR RESOURCES IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN HONG KONG TO THE FIGHT AGAINST THE BILL, AND WE EXPECT TO ANNOUNCE ADDITIONAL MOVES IN STEPPING UP OUR LOBBYING EFFORTS SHORTLY.
+NOW IS THE RIGHT TIME TO MAXIMISE OUR EFFORTS, AND THAT IS PRECISELY WHAT WE WILL BE DOING.+
MR TSANG SAID THAT FURTHER DETAILS OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE'S TIMETABLE FOR CONSIDERING THE BILL ARE BEING SOUGHT FROM THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WASHINGTON OFFICE.
+THE QUESTION OF TIMING AND TACTICS ON THE BILL REMAINS VERY COMPLICATED. WE WILL BE MONITORING DEVELOPMENTS VERY CLOSELY IN WASHINGTON, AND ADJUSTING OUR TACTICS MORE OR LESS ON A DAILY BASIS, MR TSANG SAID.
CONSIDERATION IN THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE WAS THE FIRST FORMAL STEP IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS WITHIN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. IF THE BILL PASSED THE COMMITTEE IT COULD THEN BE CONSIDERED BY THE FULL HOUSE. IF PASSED BY THE HOUSE, SIMILAR PROCEDURES WOULD HAVE TO BE FOLLOWED IN THE SENATE BEFORE THE BILL COULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT.
ANY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BILLS PASSED BY THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE WOULD HAVE TO BE RESOLVED BEFORE SUBMISSION TO THE PRESIDENT, HE SAID.
THE PRESIDENT HAS 10 DAYS IN WHICH TO CONSIDER ANY BILL. IN THAT TIME HE MUST DECIDE WHETHER TO SIGN THE BILL AND THEREBY PASS IT INTO LAW, OR TO EXERCISE HIS VETO.
LAND COMMISSION HOLDS 4TH MEETING *****
THE SINO-BRITISH LAND COMMISSION HELD ITS FOURTH MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 12-13 TO DISCUSS THE LAND DISPOSAL PROGRAMME FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS FINANCIAL YEAR IN RELATION TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT. DECLARATION.
THE TWO SIDES EXCHANGED VIEWS ON THE PRESENT STATE OF THE PROPERTY MARKET AND FUTURE LAND REQUIREMENTS. THIS DISCUSSION FORMED A USEFUL BASIS FOR FURTHER DETAILED CONSIDERATION OF THE LAND DISPOSAL PROGRAMME.
THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD ON OCTOBER 9 TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION ON THE LAND DISPOSAL PROGRAMME.
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