TNAG-1333-FCO40-1765-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-1985 — Page 15

CONFIDENTIAL COVERING SECRET

100

W

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1A 2AH

13 November 1984

Mi Lowell

Enter

filen

M

14 li

Sir George Engle, KCB, QC

First Parliamentary Counsel

36 Whitehall

London SW1A 2AY

HKK 040/53,

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

1 5 NOV 1984

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

800

14||11.

Dear George,

HONG KONG BILL

1. In Sir John Freeland's absence in New York, I am now able to send you, enclosed with this letter, Instructions for the Hong Kong Bill which you have been awaiting; and I should be grateful if you would put in hand the drafting of the Bill as a matter of urgency. The complexity of the question of nationality aspects had held them up. The Instructions on nationality are agreed with the Home Office. The Home Office Note (Paper C) has not yet been agreed in all its detail, and is attached simply to illustrate the sort of matters with which future Orders in Council will have to deal. But it gives a clear enough account of the matter to make drafting of the Bill possible. Ministers will wish to introduce the Bill as soon as possible in January 1985.

2. If there is any further information or material which you need, we will be glad to do what we can to assist, and to attend any conference which you may wish to have.

3.

Mr Burrows, who drafted the Instructions, is the legal adviser most directly concerned and could best be your point of contact. His telephone number is 233 4895.

Yours sincerely,

Hemy Darwin

H G Darwin

Acting Legal Adviser

c.c.

Mr J Pakenham-Walsh, HO (with Instructions)

Mr M L Saunders, Law Officers Dept (with Instructions)

Mr M Thomas, QC, Attorney General, Hong Kong (with Instructions

& Paper C)

b.c.c.

Mr Burrows, L.A.

Mr Galsworthy, HKD

Mr Aust, L.A.

Mr Wood, L.A.

CONFIDENTIAL COVERING SECRET

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