TNAG-1377-FCO40-1825-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-Hong-Kong-Bill-1985 — Page 76

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OO HONG KONG

GRS 147

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO 241500Z JANUARY 85

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 161 OF 24 JAN

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

YOUR TELNO 195: HONG KONG BILL:

HKK 040/2

28 JA 1985

COMMITTEE STAGE

1. THE LEADER OF THE HOUSE THIS AFTERNOON ANNOUNCED THE POSTPONEMENT OF THE COMMITTEE STAGE, REPORT STAGE AND THIRD READING OF THE HONG KONG BILL. HE DID NOT GIVE A NEW DATE FOR THESE STAGES, BUT SAID THAT THE POSTPONEMENT IN NO WAY DIMINISHED THE IMPORTANCE THE GOVERNMENT ATTACHED TO THIS LEGISLATION, OR THEIR DESIRE TO ENSURE ITS SPEEDY PASSAGE.

MR KINNOCK FOR THE OPPOSITION THANKED THE LEADER FOR THE POSTPONEMENT AND SAID IT WOULD ALLOW FURTHER PREPARATORY WORK TO BE UNDERTAKEN BY MPS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HOUSE.

2.

3.

THE GENERAL INTENTION OF THE BUSINESS MANAGERS REMAINS THAT THE DEBATE SHOULD BE IN THE WEEK BEGINNING 4 FEBRUARY, PROBABLY ON 6 FEBRUARY. BUT THIS IS NOW UNLIKELY TO BE ANNOUNCED BEFORE

31 JANUARY.

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 DRC CHRISTOPHER, CABINET OFF. SIR P CRADOCK, NO 10 DOWNING ST MR HYDE HORE OFFICE

OFFICE QAÇ OMERY B 4 HODE ORFICE

GROZDON

CONFIDENTTALERY