TNAG-1334-FCO40-1766-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-1984 — Page 64

CONFIDENTIAL

00 ΤΟΚΥΟ

OO PEKING

GRS 202

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO 121200Z DECEMBER 84

TO IMMEDIATE TOKYO (PERSONAL FOR SIR E YOUDE)

TELEGRAM NUMBER 647 OF 12 DEC

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG AND PEKING

HONG KONG AGREEMENT: DRAFT BILL

1.

5925

1

Hun 040/5335

RECEIVED I

4

13 DEC 1984

INDEX

PA

Chico laken

THE BUSINESS MANAGERS OF THE HOUSE HAVE TOLD US THAT

IF

THE DRAFT HONG KONG BILL MUST BE PUT TO THE LEGISLATION

COMMITTEE OF THE CABINET NO LATER THAN 9 JANUARY IN ORDER TO

ALLOW INTRODUCTION IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER. THIS REQUIRES

CIRCULATION TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE ON 2 JANUARY.

EXCO ARE TO HAVE A PROPER OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER THE BILL

IN DRAFT IT WILL THEREFORE BE NECESSARY TO PUT IT TO THEM

THIS MONTH, AND THE SOONER THE BETTER.

2.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE DIFFICULTIES OF TIMING,

BECAUSE OF YOUR ABSENCE IN TOKYO THIS WEEK WITH SIR S Y CHUNG,

AND THE LACK OF EXCO MEETINGS SCHEDULED THEREAFTER. HOWEVER

I ATTACH CONSIDERABLE IMPORTANCE TO HAVING EXCO'S VIEWS ON

THE BILL BEFORE IT IS INTRODUCED TO PARLIAMENT. I VERY

MUCH HOPE THEREFORE THAT IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO HOLD AN

EXTRA EXCO MEETING FOR THIS PURPOSE.

3.

WE SHALL TELEGRAPH IN THE COURSE OF THIS WEEK THE

THIRD REVISE OF THE BILL, WHICH TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE COMMENTS

OF THE HONG KONG ATTORNEY GENERAL HERE IN LONDON, AND EARLIER

COMMENTS FROM HONG KONG.

Д

HOWE

HONG KONG AGREEMENT

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER)

PS

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR W HARD ING

MR WILSON

SIR J FREELAND

MR J CROWLEY, PUSD

COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT

MR FIFOOT. LEGAL ADVISERS MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET

OFFICE

MR CARTLEDGE, CABINET OFFICE MR COLVIN, CABINET OFFICE

SIR P CRADOCK, NO 10 DOWNING ST SIR P CRADOCK, ROOM K195

CONFIDENTIAL

149