HICK OIL !
20 FEB 1935
ва th. Lecks Cez p2
Mr Galsworthy, HKD
CONFIDENTIAL'
14
(49)
С
им
FROM
Paul Fifoot
DATE:
19 February 1985
AMENDMENTS TO LETTERS PATENT AND ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS
31
1.
43
116
I have now had an opportunity to study Hong Kong telno 313
of 9 February and the drafts enclosed with Sir P Haddon-Cave's
letter of 12 February.
Letters Patent
2. With regard to the issues raised in my minute of
23 January to Mr Hoare, Hong Kong agrees my editorial amendment
to Article 1(4) and proposes to risk relying on the word
"constituencies" in new Article VII (2).
2. You have decided to go along with the Governor's preference
not to include the suggestion that there should be a reserved
power of legislation by the Governor. I am not convinced of
the Governor's arguments insofar as they deal with the
applicability of past precedents and the present situation
the issue is one of giving the Governor adequate power to carry
out HMG's responsibilities, not one of confidence in the
legislature; but there is merit in the argument about the
possible effect of such a provision as a precedent for the SAR.
The issue is now before Ministers.
3. The only outstanding point on the Letters Patent is therefore
on Article 1(5) relating to the "appointed date". This is
relevant to the question of extra-sessional sittings (for which
provision was apparently made in the Standing Orders of the
Legislative Council in 1984). I frankly do not understand the
argument about this and we will need to be aware what it is in
order to inform Ministers. I will speak to Mr Thomas in Hong
We may also need to look at this
Kong in order to find out.
again when we have decided on the question of dissolution.
1
CONFIDENTIAL
/Royal
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