TNAG-1333-FCO40-1765-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-1985 — Page 294

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It is clear that they attach considerable importance

to this point and a row about it could well make the conclusion of the agreement more difficult. But before we do agree to insert the date of July 1985 into

the Joint Declaration, we will need your agreement that the necessary legislation can be completed by the end

of June 1985.

5.

We have in mind a short bill, essentially

dealing with the termination of British sovereignty over Hong Kong as from 1 July 1997. We shall try to avoid the necessity for it to deal with other matters,

such as nationality, which might complicate its passage, and are in my view better left until the dust settles at a later date. We cannot however be absolutely certain which aspects the bill will need to cover until we complete negotiations at the end of September.

6.

Subject to your agreement,

I assume that we would

need to prepare a paper for the Queen's Speeches and Future Legislation Committee setting out the position,

with a view to giving instructions to Parliamentary Counsel shortly after the initialling of the agreement

in September.

7.

I hope that you will be able to agree that it

would be possible to include a Hong Kong Bill in the legislative programme 1984/85, and to put it through all the necessary stages by the end of June 1985. I am writing separately to the Leader of the House on this

subject.

18.

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