TNAG-1377-FCO40-1825-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-Hong-Kong-Bill-1985 — Page 296

RESTRICTED

2529

1

(5

DD HONG KONG 050100Z

GRS 127

RESTRICTED

DESKBY 050100Z

FM FCO 041515Z JAN 85

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 24 OF 4 JANUARY

AND TO IMMEDIATE PEKING

HKK 040/2.

YOUR TELNO 27: TABLING OF THE JOINT DECLARATION IN LEGCO

1.

WE REGRET THAT WE ARE UNABLE TO CONFIRM THE FORMULATION USED BY THE PRIME MINISTER AND PREMIER ZHAO TO SIGN THE JOINT DECLARAT-

ION SINCE THE ACTUAL DOCUMENT HAS NOT YET ARRIVED IN LONDON AND

NO OFFICIALS FROM HERE WERE CLOSE ENOUGH AT THE CEREMONY TO BE

ABLE TO SEE THE SIGNATURES. HOWEVER, WE UNDERSTAND FROM NO 10 THAT THE PRIME MINISTER USUALLY SIGNS HERSELF 'MARGARET

THATCHER'.

2. PERHAPS PEKING COULD CONFIRM THE SIGNATURES? IF PEKING CANNOT DO SO, WE SUGGEST YOU USE THE FORMULATIONS IN TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE. THERE ARE NO LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS INVOLVED.

HOWE

HONG KONG AGREEMENT

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER)

PS

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR W HARD ING

MR WILSON

SIR J FREELAND

MR J CROWLEY, PUSD

COPIES TO:(VIA ADR) MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET

OFFICE

MR CARTLEDGE, CABINET OFFICE MR COLVIN, CABINET OFFICE SIR P CRADOCK, NO 10 DOWNING ST

RESTRICTED

19