TNAG-1332-FCO40-1762-Future-of-Hong-Kong-White-Paper-on-the-Joint-Declaration-1984 — Page 322

CODE 18-77

SECRET

Reference...

3

Mr Hải

3.

HKD

FUTURE OF HONG KONG: FLOW CHART

1.

In your minute of 2 August you asked me physical production of the White Paper.

2.

White Paper

$18 Cra

to consider the

She told me that it

I spoke to Mrs Fewster of NTD. normally takes 6-8 weeks to produce a White Paper of about 20 pages.

However, in special circumstances the process could be speeded up. It will still take approximately 2 weeks.

3.

The pattern for producing a white Paper is as follows:-

a) we send a copy of the text to Mrs Fewster. to the Parliamentary Clerk who has to write to permission for it to be printed.

We copy this No 10 to get

b) a first proof of the White Paper is produced.

us for checking.

to

This is sent

c) the proof is corrected, then goes back to the press and a final version is produced. At least a week is needed for this.

However,

a) the White Paper must then be laid before Parliament. on the time scale to which we are working, Parliament will be in recess. This in fact presents no problem

- a Paper can still be laid in the

House during recess.

e) under normal circumstances a confidential final revised copy is laid in Parliament the day before publication. Twenty-four hours later the copies are published. However, in special circumstances a hite Paper can be laid before Parliament and published on the same day. I think it will be necessary to do it this way in view of the time constraints and the need for it to be published in Hong Kong simultaneously.

Mrs Fewster said that we might like to give thought to:- a) the exact title of the White Paper

4.

and

b)

the number of copies we shall need.

5. I attach a flow chart showing the time scale for points a) to e) of paragraph 3.

3 August 1984

SECRET

Jove Ann Klawak.

JA Klowak

Hong Kong Department

MKKO 46 50

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

- 9 AUG 1984

a

STRY

1

SM9/8