TNAG-1317-FCO40-1720-Future-of-Hong-Kong-meetings-of-the-Cabinet-Defence-and-Over-1984 — Page 29

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LORD PRIVY SEAL

1.

SECRET

Mi Gall.

Future of Hong Kong

HKD

PS/Mr Luce

p3/pus

Sir P. Cradock

sir J. Freeland.

sir w.

Harding

News Dept

FOD

Part. Wint

تتا

Mr Waller, Research Dert.

The talks with the Chinese are, as you know, progressing well and we hope to be in a position to initial a draft agreement before the end of September.

2.

If we are successful, we shall need legislation on a future transfer of sovereignty before we can ratify and

I have written separately to Willie Whitelaw about this.

3.

.

The immediate problem is that we need to agree with the Chinese a date for ratification of the agreement, which will be included in the Joint Declaration. The Chinese originally insisted that this should be within 30 days of sovereignty, which, as you know, we have agreed should take place before the end of the year. We have told the Chinese that ratification will require legislation in the British Parliament, and will take months rather than days. Since the Chinese wish to complete work soon on the draft agreement, we need to form a view quickly on the timetable for putting a Hong Kong Bill through both Houses.

4.

My considered view is that July 1985 is the latest date at which ratification would be acceptable to the Chinese. I have written to Willie Whitelaw about the exact timetable of a Hong Kong Bill, but I should be grateful for your confirmation that the pressure of business in the House will not preclude us from putting a Hong Kong bill through all its stages by the end of June. My best guess at present is that the bill will not be controversial, though it is likely to attract considerable interest.

SECRET

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