TNAG-1333-FCO40-1765-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-1985 — Page 314

CRS 230

SECRET

SECRET

FUTURE EGRET

FRON PEKING 181020Z AUG 04

TO INMEDIATE FOO

TELEGRAN MUNDER 1796 OF 18/6/PL

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

FOLLOWING FOR GALSWORTHY FROM BURROWS

ник 040/53

RECEIVED N

23 AUG 1984

YOUR TEL NO 967:

UK LEGILSATION ON HONG KONG

JAM

1. IT IS NOT EASY HERE AND NOW FOR ME TO RECOMMEND WHAT THE LEGISLATION SHOULD CONTAIN OR HOW LONG WILL BE NEEDED TO ENACT IT. HOWEVER, GIVEN THE NEED TO RATIFY

THE AGREEMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, I HOPE WE SHALL ONLY NEED TO HAVE A SHORT BILL, DEALING ONLY WITH THE TERMINATION

OF BRITISH SOVEREIGNTY. ON THAT I SUGGEST YOU SHOULD

SHOW YOUR ACTING LEGAL ADVISED THE TEXT OF MY TELELETTER

TO SIR PICHARD EVANS OF 26 APRIL

2. SUBJECT TO PARLIAMENTARY TIMETABLES, I THINK IT OUGHT TO BE POSSIBLE TO ENACT SUCH A BILL BY THE END OF JUNE 1985, THUS ALLOWING RATIFICATION OF THE AGREEMENT IN JULY.

3. THERE WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY DEED TO BE FURTHER LEGILSATION

AT A LATER DATE, NOTABLY TO AMEND THE BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT. BUT HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE NOTHING IN THE FINAL AGREEMENT WHICH WILL OBLIGE US TO DO SO BEFORE WE CAN SAFELY

RATIFIY. ANY BILL TO AMEND OUR NATIONALITY LAW IS

BOUND TO BE CONTROVERSIAL AND TIME-CONSUMING, AND I WOULD NOT

BE CONFIDENT OF COMPLETING THE PROCESS BY 30 JUNE 1985.

HENCE MY RECOMMENDATION THAT WE SHOULD IF POSSIPLE

CONFINE THE FIRST DILL TO THE TERMINATION OF

BRITISH SOVEREIGNTY.

EVANS

LIMITED

HD/ HKD HD I FED

SIR.W. HARDING

SECRET

COPIES TO SIR.P. CRADOCK MR BURROWS MRFIFOOT

} LEGAL ADV

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