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213 3576
CONFIDENTIAL
F Burrows Esq CMG
Legal Advisers Branch
FCO
Downing Street
SW1.
115
HOME OFFICE
QUEEN ANNE'S GATE
LONDON SWIH 9AT
Pa
ไข่"
2011
HKK RECEIVED
1.
2.
4
26 November 1984.
сс
Done
24/
cc Mr. Cowell HK deft. Mh. Kr. Hill & HK. Rep. to enter.
040/53.
HEGISTRY
27 NOV 1984
FICER
PA
INDes
7
де
sen
L.B.
26/11
Jem Fred.
HONG KONG BILL
Thank you for your letter of 23 November enclosing a draft of one
for Parliamentary Counsel.
2.
As regards paragraph 11 of your draft letter, I think it
should be emphasised that we are not only concerned in obtaining
an assurance about the extent of the vires of the enabling powers,
though that is obviously important. What we fear is that without
a specific reference in the Bill to cut-off dates for applications
it will be said in Parliament that cut-off dates are not consistent
with the spirit of the Act, inasmuch as it may be read as
contemplating that all people who are Hong Kong BDTCs should be
able to acquire the new status whenever they apply. They would
then see cut-off dates in the Order in Council as a misuse or
unexpected use of the powers. One has to have particularly in
mind the potential difficulties in the House of Lords where it
is not always possible to rely on the Whip to ensure that
Government wishes prevail. One has only to recall the
Government's failure to persuade the House of Lords over
CONFIDENTIAL
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