TNAG-1334-FCO40-1766-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-1984 — Page 73

Jagne Excs will have CONFIDENTIAL

хуже

to hold an carlier inccting

and that a

Любо

telegraus fron

the S. ostaty is andet.

Sir P Cradock

Private Secretary

拳

Meradock

HKK

RECEIVED IN REGIS

010/53

13 DEC 1984

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

143

Search of State..

A C Galsworthy

FROM:

"// DATE:

11 December 1984

HONG KONG BILL : CONSIDERATION BY EXCO

Tel None

Wwwt

CC:

PS/Mr Luce

PS/PUS

Sir J Freeland

Dr Wilson

Mr Burrows

PROBLEM

1. The Hong Kong Bill must be considered by the Legislation (L) Committee on 9 January. This requires circulation on 2 January. The Governor says that EXCO cannot consider the Bill until 4 January. How should we proceed?

RECOMMENDATION

2. I recommend that the Secretary of State requests the Governor, to put the draft bill to EXCO in time for their views to reach us by 2 well payme

January.at the latest. I submit a draft telegram.

A

BACKGROUND AND AGREEMENT

3. The Cabinet Office told us that the L Committee must consider the Bill no later than 9 January, so that the Bill can be introduced shortly thereafter, and the second reading take place in January. The Bill should be circulated to members of the Committee by

2 January.

4. Hong Kong officials have been consulted about the Bill, and we incorporated their comments in the revised instructions to counsel which led to the current third draft. The next step is to put the draft Bill to EXCO.

CONFIDENTIAL