TNAG-1377-FCO40-1825-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-Hong-Kong-Bill-1985 — Page 268

DD HONG KONG 100100Z

GRS 400

CONFIDENTIAL

DESKBY 100100Z

FM FCO 090919Z JAN 85

CONFIDENTIAL

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HICK 040/2.

RECKIYA

1 1 JAN 1985

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 55 OF 9 JANUARY 1985

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

MIPT: HONG KONG BILL

FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF THE EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM WHICH WILL

COVER THE BILL:

BEGINS

W

THE BILL PROVIDES FOR THE TERMINATION OF BRITISH SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE CEDED PARTS OF HONG KONG AND THE TERMINATION OF BRITISH JURISDICTION OVER THE WHOLE TERRITORY. IT ALSO PROVIDES FOR OTHER MATTERS CONSEQUENTIAL ON, OR CONNECTED WITH, THE CHANGE OF SOVEREIGNTY AND JURISDICTION AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG SIGNED IN PEKING ON 19TH DECEMBER 1984. CLAUSE 1 PROVIDES FOR THE TERMINATION OF SOVEREIGNTY AND JURISDICTION AS FROM 1ST JULY 1997. THIS CLAUSE IS DESIGNED TO COME INTO FORCE AT THE SAME TIME AS THE JOINT DECLARATION ON A DATE BEFORE 30 JUNE 1985 WHICH HAS YET TO BE AGREED WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.

CLAUSE 2 PROVIDES FOR THE SCHEDULE TO THE BILL TO DEAL WITH MATTERS CONSEQUENTIAL ON OR CONNECTED WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION OR THE TERMINATION OF SOVEREIGNTY AND JURISDICTION.

SCHEDULE

PARAGRAPH 1 PROVIDES THE NECESSARY DEFINITIONS FOR THE SCHEDULE. PARAGRAPH 2 ENABLES ORDERS IN COUNCIL TO BE MADE TO IMPLEMENT THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE RELATED EXCHANGE OF MEMORANDA WHEREBY CERTAIN PERSONS WILL LOSE THEIR STATUS AS BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZENS AND WILL BECOME ENTITLED TO ACQUIRE A NEW FORM OF BRITISH NATIONALITY. THERE IS ALSO POWER TO MAKE

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CONFIDENTIAL