TNAG-1377-FCO40-1825-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-Hong-Kong-Bill-1985 — Page 212

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HKK 040/2.

CONFIDENTIAL

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800.8/1

Private Secretary

55)

Seardly of State

FROM: A C GALSWORTHY, HKD

DATE: 16 January 1985

See (44)

22

A few dagge

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also stem

CC:

PS/Lady Young

PS/Mr Luce

Sir W Harding

Dr Wilson

Mr Houston

Mr Brrows, Legal Advisers

M- Fifoot

Mr Elliot, FED

Mr Walker, Research Dept

Parliamentary Unit

New Dept

Also copied for Mr Ryder.

HONG KONG BILL: SECOND READING DEBATE: MONDAY 21 JANUARY

1. A agreed I submit a redraft of the Secretary of State's

speech. I have inserted material on the question of keeping

Parliament informed, on the question of constitutional development,

and on the composition and establishment of the Joint Liaison Group.

2. I have also adapted the section on nationality to take account

of Mr Powell's motion.

3.

The Secretary of State suggested that we ought to deal in the

speech with the method of termination of sovereignty so as

to

forestall the kind of arguments which were being produced in EXCO in favour of the Order-in-Council procedure. I have in fact expanded the section dealing with sovereignty to explain why it is necessary

to have parliamentary authority for the transfer of sovereignty

before ratification takes place. However, so far, the EXCO

reservations about the method of dealing with sovereignty have not

CONFIDENTIAL