TNAG-1332-FCO40-1762-Future-of-Hong-Kong-White-Paper-on-the-Joint-Declaration-1984 — Page 37

GRS 110

SECRET

FUTURE EGRET

SECRET

DESKBY 15090OZ FCO AND HONG KONG

FROM PEKING 150813Z SEP 34

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 2361 OF 15 SEPTEMBER

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

S

HKicaud So

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

17 SEP 1984

DESK OFFICER INDEX

PA

75

HEGISTRY

Action Taken

fizde m214

HONG KONG TELNO 2835: FUTURE EGRET: PART 1 OF THE WHITE

PAPER: THE LAWS

1. WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS AGREED WITH THE WORKING GROUP ON THE DRAFT IN TUR:

(A) WE SUGGEST THAT THE FIRST SENTENCE BE REDRAFTED AS FOLLOWS:

''THIS PART OF THE ANNEX PROVIDES CONTINUITY OF THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF HONG KONG LAW BEYOND 1997, SUBJECTOO CERTAIN CONDITIONS''.

(B) PARAGRAPH 1, SECOND SENTENCE: ''AS FOUND BY' WILL MEAN NOTHING TO LAYMEN. I SUGGEST IT BE REPLACE BY AS DEVELOPED BY**,

(C) PARAGRAPH 2: THE FINAL SENTENCE WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY PROVOKE REPUDIATION FROM THE CHINESE AND THE TWO PRECEDING SENTENCES ALSO COVER A MINEFIELD. THE SENTENCE IS CONCERNED WITH AN ESSENTIALLY EXTRANEOUS MATTER. WE SUGGEST DELETION OF

ALL AFTER THE FIRST SENTENCE.

Se93 See icht

EVANS

LIMITED

HD/HKD HD/FED MR BOYD

SECRET

COPIES TO:

SIR P CRADOCK (2)

MR BICKFORD, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR FITFOOT,

SIR E YOUDE, K195A