TNAG-1334-FCO40-1766-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-1984 — Page 123

CONFIDENTIAL

Private Members' Bills

6. Proposals should be listed on the form at Annex B and show the Bills which are considered suitable, and which can be made ready, for offering to Private Members of the House of Commons who are successful in the ballot for Bills which will take place at the beginning of the 1985/86 Session. The purpose of putting together this list now is to avoid a rush of requests for policy clearance and drafting in the autumn when pressure of work on Government Bills is at its greatest. Once proposals have been considered and agreed, it should be possible to carry out preparatory work on at least some of the Bills in advance of the ballot. There is no guarantee that a particular Bill will be taken up - that is a matter for individual Private Members - but if it is not chosen in one Session a ready-drafted Bill will remain available for subsequent Sessions. The list should include any Bills which have been offered or introduced in previous Sessions without success and which you would like to offer again.

7.

To be suitable for offering to a Private Member a Bill should normally be short, simple, non-financial and not controversial in party political terms. It may be unsuitable if it is likely to be unpopular with prominent non-Parliamentary interest groups, but such proposals may be included on the list provided that the likely reaction of outside groups is explained. There is no need to use a separate page of Annex B to list each bid, but some idea of order of priority should be given.

Overlap between lists

8. It may be that some Bills merit places in the Government programme but would also be suitable for offering to Private Members. If genuinely suitable for both categories they should be included on both lists, with a cross-reference in each entry to the other one. Inclusion in the Private Members' list as well as the Government one will not necessarily lead to a Bill being excluded from the latter by QL Committee. It is important for each entry to make clear whether there are any special timing considerations which could influence the choice which is finally made.

9. I would be grateful if bids could be sent to Legal Executive Section (Room WH235) as soon as possible, but in any event, not later than Monday 3 December 1984. Nil returns are required.

10. Copies of the returns submitted during 1984 for the 1984/85 Session are available in Legal Executive Section if required for reference.

H G DARWIN LEGAL ADVISERS

DISTRIBUTION:

Heads of Department.

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CONFIDENTIAL