TNAG-1307-FCO40-1664-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 34

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FM HONG KONG 27094OZ FEB 84

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 527 OF 27 FEBRUARY

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON,

UKMIS GENEVA, CG NEW YORK, WASHINGTON

FOR HONG KONG GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES HKG/GT/47: FUTURE OF HONG KONG.

BRUSSELS

RECEIVED IN MEGISTHY

24 FEB 1984

DESK CEY CH

INDEX

1. UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAVE STATED" THEIR INTENTION TO GIVE NOTICE OF A MOTION TO BE DEBATED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON MARCH 14 IN THE FOLLOWING TERMS: **THIS COUNCIL DEEMS IT ESSENTIAL THAT ANY PROPOSALS FOR THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG SHOULD BE DEBATED IN THIS COUNCIL BEFORE ANY FINAL AGREEMENT IS REACHED.''

BACKGROUND

2. THE LEFT WING PRESS HAS WARNED THAT THE MOTION COULD BE A BARRIER TO THE TALKS IF NOT HANDLED PROPERLY. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT UNOFFICIALS HAD EXCEEDED THEIR POWERS WHICH DID NOT PERMIT LEGCO TO INTERVENE IN BRITISH FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

LINE TO TAKE

3. THERE IS NOTHING IN THE ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS, THE LETTERS PATENT OR THE STANDING INSTRUCTIONS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO SUGGEST THAT THIS MOTION IS (NEXT TWO WORDS UNDERLINED) ULTRA VIRES. ARTICLE XXIV OF THE ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS' STATES THAT **IT SHALL BE COMPETENT FOR ANY MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO PROPOSE ANY QUESTION FOR DEBATE THERE IN: AND SUCH QUESTION SHALL BE DEBATED AND DISPOSED OF ACCORDING TO THE STANDINGS RULES AND ORDERS."

4. IF ASKED, YOU SHOULD SAY THAT OFFICIALS OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAVE WELCOMED THIS MOVE. HMG IS COMMITTED TO SEEKING AN AGREEMENT WHICH IS ACCEPTABLE TO HONG KONG, TO PARLIAMENT AND CHINA. ALTHOUGH IT IS TOO EARLY TO SAY HOW OPINION WILL BE TESTED IN HONG KONG, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEBATE ANY PROPOSALS FOR A SETTLEMENT.

5. THE INITIATIVE FOR THIS MOTION COMES FROM UNOFFICIALS. YOU SHOULD REFUTE STRONGLY ANY SUGGESTION THAT THE ADMINISTRATION ENCOURAGED UNOFFICIALS TO TAKE THIS ACTION. YOU SHOULD ALSO REFUTE ANY SUGGESTION THAT THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS TIMED TO COINCIDE WITH THE VISIT TO HONG KONG BY MR LUCE OR THAT HMG WILL SEEK TO DIRECT WHAT LINE MEMBERS SHOULD TAKE.

RESTRICHED

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STAY den Taken