TNAG-1333-FCO40-1765-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-1985 — Page 237

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FUTURE OF HONG KONG: LEGISLATION

INTRODUCTION

1.

It is believed that it will be possible to conclude a

satisfactory agreement on Hong Kong with the Chinese shortly.

timetable envisaged is the following:-

The

(a) Initialling of agreement before the end of September;

(b) Publication of a White Paper explaining the agreement before the end of September;

(c)

Assessment of the acceptability of the agreement in Hong Kong, in October and November;

(d)

(e)

(f)

1985;

Debate in Parliament, in the first week of December;

Signature of agreement, before the end of the year;

Introduction and enactment of legislation before July

(g)

Ratification by July 1985.

2.

At Chinese insistence, and with the agreement of the Lord

President of the Council, the Lord Privy Seal and the Attorney General, it is agreed to say in the Joint Declaration that the

agreement will be ratified by July 1985. It will therefore be necessary rapidly to prepare legislation for divesting the UK of sovereignty over the ceded territories in 1997. The purpose of this paper is to indicate the content and form of this legislation,

which must be enacted before ratification can take place by that

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/date.