TNAG-1377-FCO40-1825-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-Hong-Kong-Bill-1985 — Page 157

DD 211430Z HONG KONG

GRS 2755

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

208 300Y

МКК окоро

RECEIVED IN

23 JAN 1985

DESK OFFICEA

INDEX

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ISTRY

Action Taken

DESKBY 211430Z

FM FCO 211235Z JANUARY 85

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 126 OF 21 JANUARY

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

HONG KONG BILL: SECRETARY OF STATE'S SPEECH AT 2ND READING

FOLLOWING IS FINAL DRAFT OF SECRETARY OF STATE'S SPEECH IN THE

DEBATE ON THE SECOND READING OF THE HONG KONG BILL. THERE WILL

BE FURTHER AMENDMENTS AND IT WILL NEED CAREFUL CHECKING AGAINST

DELIVERY.

BEGINS

1. I BEG TO MOVE, THAT THE BILL BE NOW READ A SECOND TIME.

2. I HAVE IT IN COMMAND FROM HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN TO ACQUAINT

THE HOUSE THAT HER MAJESTY, HAVING BEEN INFORMED OF THE PURPOSE

OF THE HONG KONG BILL, HAS CONSENTED TO PLACE HER PREROGATIVE AND

INTERESTS SO FAR AS THEY ARE AFFECTED BY THE BILL, AT THE

DISPOSAL OF PARLIAMENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE BILL.

3. MR SPEAKER, THE BILL THAT IS BEFORE US TODAY IS SHORT, BUT

NEVERTHELESS OF HISTORIC IMPORTANCE.

4. THE HOUSE HAD A FULL OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE SINO-BRITISH

AGREEMENT ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG ON 5 DECEMBER. I WAS

HEARTENED BY THE WARMTH AND UNANIMITY OF THE SUPPORT WITH WHICH

MEMBERS APPROVED THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO SIGN IT. I AM

CONFIDENT THAT IT PROVIDES SATISFACTORILY FOR THE CONTINUED

STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG INTO THE TWENTY-FIRST

CENTURY. AS THE HOUSE KNOWS, IT WAS SIGNED BY MY RT HON FRIEND,

THE PRIME MINISTER AND HER CHINESE COUNTERPART PREMIER ZHAO

ZIYANG IN PEKING ON 19 DECEMBER.

5. IT WAS CLEAR FROM THE DEBATE IN DECEMBER THAT THE HOUSE SAW

THE AGREEMENT AS A GOOD ONE AND ONE THAT MET THE NEEDS OF THE

PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. A NUMBER OF HON AND RT HON MEMBERS RAISED

THE CONCERNS EXPRESSED IN HONG KONG ABOUT CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE

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CONFIDENTIAL