TNAG-1355-FCO40-1796-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 92

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4. FOR THE TIME BEING WE ARE TAKING THE LINE THAT WHAT CAN BE DONE IN LEGCO IS SET OUT IN THE LETTERS PATENT, THE ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS AND THE STANDING ORDERS OF THE COUNCIL. THE NEXT SESSION HAS NOT YET STARTED AND IT WOULD BE PREMATURE AT THIS STAGE TO SPECULATE ON WHAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE SUBJECTS FOR DEBATE. ANY QUESTION ABOUT THE INCLUSION OF THE BASIC LAW ON

LEGCO'S AGENDA MUST BE REGARDED AS HYPOTHETICAL. (WHEN PRESSED

DIRECTLY BY THE PRESS THIS AFTERNOON ON WHETHER I WOULD APPOSE A

MOTION SUPPORTED BY A MAJORITY OF MEMBERS, HAVING FIRST REFERED TO THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT FOR DRAFTING THE BASIC LAW, I SAID THAT IT WOULD BE IMPROPER FOR ME AS PRESIDENT TO RULE ON ANY MOTION BEFORE IT HAD EVEN BEEN PUT DOWN.)

5. WE SHALL NOT, OF COURSE, BE ABLE TO HOLD THIS LINE INDEFINITELY AND IF, AS SEEMS LIKELY, MR LEE PERSISTS IN CALLING FOR A DEBATE WE MIGHT HAVE DIFFICULTY IN DENYING IT TO HIM, EVEN IF WE WISHED TO. WE WILL COMMENT FURHTER ON THE POLITICAL ASPECTS SHORTLY.

YOUDE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

XD/ HID

HD/ TED

HD/ PLANNING STAFF

HD/ PUSD

DEP ID/ PUSD

RESEARCH D (MR WALKER)

PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/MR RENTON

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING

DR WILSON

COPIES TO:

MR ROBERTS,

NEWS DEPT

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR MARTIN, ASSESSMENT STAFF,

CABINET OFFICE.

SIR P CRADOCK, NO.10 DOWNING STR.

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