TNAG-0989-FCO40-1208-Claims-to-property-in-People-s-Republic-of-China-owned-by-UK-1980 — Page 51

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months to present to the Chinese.

8

Mr Whomersley said that the earliest date when the draft Order-in-Council could be put to the Privy

Council would be October. It would then have to lay

before Parliament for 40 days before coming into operation.

Mr Wright said that in view of the current work of the FCC,

the shortage of staff, the need to train new staff, and the need to prepare application forms and have them printed, the timing was extremely tight. It was agreed however that the Order should be made as soon as possible, despite

these administrative difficulties, and that either 1 December or 1 January should be the target for bringing the Order into operation. Mr Whomersley undertook to produce a

draft of an Order in Council.

9

Mr Fursland confirmed that FED would follow up with the Chinese MFA the action set out at para 2(b), i, ii and iii of Mr McLaren's submission of 9 July 1980. (It will be necessary, when advising the Chinese that we shall be proceeding with the registration, to tell them that the information is in confidence at present since the registration cannot yet be made public.)

copies:

Mr W J Adams AUSS (for information)

Sir James Henry

Chairman

FCC

Mr Whomersley

Legal Advisers

Mr Fursland

FED

Mr Williamsop HKGD (for information

re para 4)

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