TNAG-1365-FCO40-1811-Hong-Kong-Legislative-Council-(Powers-and-Privileges)-Bill-1-1985 — Page 5

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CONFIDENTIAL

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Mr Ehrman

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RECEIVED IN REGISTRY 2 5 JUN1985

From: P J Westmacott Date: 25 June 1985

CC: PS

Dr Wilson

News Department

H J

11

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LEGCO (POWERS AND PRIVILEGES) BILL

1.

The Governor telephoned me during the night about Mr John Morris' call on Mr Luce yesterday. As we had predicted in FCO telno 888 to Hong Kong, Mr Morris had telexed an account of his call to the Bar Association, Law Society and Justice. Unfortunately, the result had been banner headlines in this morning's Hong Kong press claiming that Mr Luce had intervened in the legislative process, asking the Governor to delay the Third Reading of the Bill while further consultations took place. The newspaper accounts also claimed that Mr Luce had asked the Governor personally to see representatives of the three legal associations.

2.

I explained the true position to the Governor, as reported in our telno 888. The Governor said he would speak on these lines to LEGCO this morning. He would subsequently come back to us with a proposed press line for dealing with enquiries. This arrived in the form of

Hong Kong telno 1265 (copy attached). After speaking to Mr Luce I telephoned the Governor's office at 9 am to say that we were content with the proposed line, suggesting only that the answer to the first question might be expanded to read:

"No.

Mr Luce conveyed to the Governor the views and anxieties expressed to him by Mr Morris, and asked for the Chairmen of the Bar Association, Law Society and Justice to be seen by a representative of the Hong Kong Government before 26 June".

I also added that Mr Luce would be glad to help clear up any misunderstandings this end if the Governor would like him to do so.

mat

PJ Westmacott PS/Mr Luce

CONFIDENTIAL