TNAG-1333-FCO40-1765-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-1985 — Page 232

CONFIDENTIAL

ALTHOUGH IT MIGHT BE ARGUED THAT THESE APE MATTERS TO BE LEFT OVER UNTIL SOME FUTURE TIME, WE HAVE ALREADY IDENTIFIED SO MANY TASKS THAT LIE AHEAD INVOLVING LOCALISATION OF LEGISLATION (E.G. MERCHANT SHIPPING) TOGETHER WITH LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN THE LAWS OF HONG KONG (E.G. CODIFICATION) THAT WE BELIEVE AN EARLY START MUST BE MADE UPON THIS WORK. MOREOVER, LEGISLATION RELATING TO CIVIL AVIATION IS HIGH ON THE AGENDA (SEE YOUR TELNO 2029). THERE MIGHT BE CRITICISM HERE IF THE BILL DEALT ONLY WITH MODIFICATION OF UK ENACTMENTS WITHOUT ENLARGING THE LEGISLATIVE POWERS OF HONG KONG. WE ALSO FEAR THAT PRESSURES UPON THE PARLIAMENTARY TIMETABLE MIGHT HOLD US BACK IF THIS OPPORTUNITY WERE LET SLIP.

4. WE HAVE NOT REPEATED THIS TELEGRAM TO PEKING SINCE YOUR TURS WERE NOT REPEATED THERE. BUT CHINESE ATTITUDES AND EXPECTATIONS WILL CLEARLY NEED TO BE CONSIDERED BY MINISTERS WHEN THEY TAKE DECISIONS AND WE ASSUME THAT YOU WILL WISH TO CONSULT THE AMBASSADOR AT THE

NEXT STAGE.

HADDON-CAVE

HONG KONG AGREEMENT

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER) PS

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR W HARD ING

MR WILSON

SIR J FREELAND

MR BOYD

COPIES TO:(VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR. MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET

OFFICE

MR CARTLEDGE, CABINET OFFICE MR COLVIN, CABINET OFFICE

SIR P CRADOCK, NO 10 DOWNING ST SIR P CRADOCK, ROOM K195

CONFIDENTIAL