TNAG-1326-FCO40-1738-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1984 — Page 53

CONFIDENTIAL

29. My Right Honourable Friend the Prime Minister and My

Right Honourable and Learned Friend the Foreign and

Commonwealth Secretary plan to travel to Peking later this

month for the signature of the agreement. They will also visit Hong Kong. Following signature the government will bring forward legislation early in 1985 to provide for the

termination of sovereignty in 1997 and to provide powers to make other necessary changes to the law in connection with

it.

30. I look forward to hearing your Lordships' views on this agreement. For their part the government regard it as a very satisfactory outcome to the negotiations. We believe that i t provides a sound basis on which a stable and prosperous Hong

Kong can flourish into the next

into the next century. I warmly commend it

to the House.

CONFIDENTIAL