TNAG-1333-FCO40-1765-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-1985 — Page 289

SECRET

FUTURE OF HONG KONG: LEGISLATION

INTRODUCTION

1.

We believe that we will be able

with

to conclude a satisfactory

agreement on Hong Kong the Chinese shortly. We are working to the

following timetable:-

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

(b)

Publication of a White Paper explaining the agreement before

the end of September;

(~)

Assessment of the acceptability of the agreement in Hong Kong,

in October and November;

(d)

(e)

(f)

2.

Debate in Parliament, in the first week of December;

Signature of agreement, before the end of the year;

Ratification by July 1985.

At Chinese insistence, and with the agreement of the Lord

President of the Council, the Lord Privy Seal and the Attorney

General, we have agreed to stipulate in the Joint Declaration that

the agreement will be ratified by July 1984. We will therefore need

rapidly to prepare legislation divesting the UK of sovereignty over

the ceded territories in 1997. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the nature of the necessary legislation, and which aspects

of the agreement will need to be covered by legislation before

ratification came take place.

AGREEMENT

3.

The Agreement will consist of:-

(a) A Joint Declaration;

(b)

1997;

Annex 1 setting out Chinese policies towards Hong Kong after

انه

(c) Annex 2 setting the terms of reference of a Joint Liaison Group

to continue cooperation between the British and Chinese Governments

from the entry into force of the Agreement until the year 2000;

Annex 3 dealing with Land both before and after 1997; and

An

(a)

(e)

associated Exchange of Memoranda between the two governments

on nationality.

These documents have not yet been finalised but the latest versions

of them are attached. With the exception of the exchange of

SECRET