TNAG-1378-FCO40-1826-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-Hong-Kong-Bill-1985 — Page 111

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GRS 700

CONFIDENTIAL

DESK BY FCO 11113OZ

CONFIDENTIAL

134

HKK.000/2

FM HONG KONG 11100OZ FEB 85

TO IMMEDIATE F C O

TELEGRAM NUMBER 320 OF 11 FEBRUARY

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

YOUR TELNO 232 : HONG KONG BILL : TIMETABLE

1. AS FAR AS PRE-RATIFICATION HONG KONG LEGISLATION IS CONCERNED,

THE REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR:

(A) LEGISLATION PROVIDING FOR MODIFIED ACCOUNTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR LAND REVENUE, CONSISTING OF:

(1) AN AMENDMENT TO THE PUBLIC FINANCE ORDINANCE:

(11) AN AMENDMENT TO THE AUDIT ORDINANCE: AND

(111) A LEGCO RESOLUTION UNDER THE AMENDED PUBLIC FINANCE

ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR THE RESTRUCTURING OF THE CAPITAL

WORKS RESERVE FUND

AND

(B) LEGISLATION TO ACCORD DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITIES AND PRIVILEGES

IN HONG KONG TO CHINESE MEMBERS OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP.

2. AS REGARDS (A), OUR PRESENT TIMETABLE (SET OUT IN PARA 14 OF

EXCO MEMORANDUM XCC (85)7) IS AS FOLLOWS:

PUBLICATION OF BILLS IN GAZETTE

W

- FIRST READING AND COMMENCMENT OF SECOND READING DEBATE

8 MARCH

13 MARCH

1 MAY

- CONCLUSION OF SECOND READING DEBATE, COMMITTEE STAGE

AND THIRD READING

15 MAY

PASSAGE OF DRAFT RESOLUTION.

THIS TIMETABLE TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE NEED TO INFORM THE CHINESE

IN ADVANCE OF OUR INTENTIONS AND TO GIVE THEM A REASONABLE TIME

IN WHICH TO REACT IF THEY WISH (MY TELNO 14). IT ALSO TAKES INTO

ACCOUNT (BUT ALREADY INCOMPLETELY THE FACT THAT THE FOUR

LEGCO SITTINGS ON 27 FEBRUARY, 27/28 MARCH, 17 APRIL AND 1 MAY ARE RESERVED FOR THE BUDGET, AND THAT NORMAL LEGCO BUSINESS IS

NOT TRANSACTED AT SUCH SITTINGS UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

3. AS REGARDS (B), THE LEGISLATION IS RELATIVELY STRAIGHTFORWARD

AND NON-CONTROVERSIAL. ALL THE NECESSARY STAGES COULD PROBABLY BE

COMPLETED IN TWO SITTINGS OF LEGCO AND, TO THAT EXTENT, THE TIMING

IS FLEXIBLE. (A DRAFT BILL IS UNDER PREPARATION AND SHOULD BE READY

SHORTLY.)

CONFIDENTIAL

14.