TNAG-1039-FCO40-1289-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 57

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180 Euter

HKCK 040/1

MR CLIFT, HKGD

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

F

ло

is dro. Ap

iR

Further to my minutes of 6 July to you and of 23 July to Mr Friar, I now attach a letter of 28 July from Mr Steel, below

2.

You will see that the Attorney General considers that an Order deleting the four words would not be effective unless either

3.

G

a) there was a preamble to the amending Order showing

clearly what was intended;

b)

the four deleted words were replaced by other words shewing clearly what was intended.

D

The Attorney's opinion accords/with my own views, as originally given in my minute of 7 May. Until HMG reach

an understanding with China or else decide to act unilaterally, there is not much point in drafting amending legislation.

A.R.R.

A R Rushford

Deputy Legal Adviser

30 July 1981

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