TNAG-1377-FCO40-1825-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-Hong-Kong-Bill-1985 — Page 305

BACKGROUND AND ARGUMENT

CONFIDENTIAL

3.

We wish to move ahead as

consideration of the Hong Kong Bill.

I t would also permit

ensure this.

rapidly as possible with the The proposed time table would the Hong Kong Government

to

arrange for a confidential briefing to be given to the Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils in advance of

publication. The Governor would favour this. It would help to

alleviate the concerns of UMELCO, in particular about the nationality provisions of the Bill, and to lessen the risk that they would intervene with public comment and lobbying of MP s during

Parliament's consideration of the Bill.

4.

Publication of the Bill would take place before the coming

weekend. By convention two weekends should elapse between the first and second readings. If publication did not take place until the week beginning 14 January the second reading could not be until the week beginning 28 January, when the Secretary of State will be away for part of the week. If publication takes place as proposed the second reading could be in the week beginning 21 January, when both the Secretary of State and Mr Luce will be in London.

5. In the view of the Chief Whip's Office it would be acceptable to

delay publication of the Bill until Friday i f the first reading takes place on Thursday (although could not be delayed any longer than this). Such a delay would enable

enable the Governor arrange the

proposed advance briefing of UMELCO. If the Minister authorises

✡before the publication of

millbe away.

To

such briefing we will instruct the Governor to give it only shortly

the Bill and on strict terms of

danger of any leaks.

the

confidentiality to avo id would of course not give copies of the Bill to UMELCO at before they had been made available to Parliament.

6.

The Governor

this stage,

Mr Luce will be away on the day proposed for introduction of the

Bill, as will the Secretary of State. I understand that it would be in order for either a Foreign Office Minister (Mr Rifkind or Mr

assent at the First

Renton) or a Whip to

Reading of the Bill.

indicate the Government's

CONFIDENTIAL