TNAG-1378-FCO40-1826-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-Hong-Kong-Bill-1985 — Page 7

CONFIDENTIAL

DRAFT SPEECH BY LADY YOUNG

SECOND READING OF THE HONG KONG BILL, 19 FEBRUARY 1985

My Lord I beg to move that the Bill be now read a second

time.

The Bill before the House today is short and I hope

relatively straightforward: but it is one of great

significance. It provides for the termination on 1 July

1997 of British sovereignty and jurisdiction over Hong Kong, and that date will sever

on that date will sever the links of government between the United Kingdom and Hong Kong which were first established some 150 years ago.bea

& Step

The

The House had an opportunity to debate the agreement which

this Bill is designed to implement on 10 December. On

that occasion the House overwhelmingly approved the Government's intention to sign the agreement. Government was much encouraged by the strong support given to the agreement by all quarters of Your Lordships' House. Later in December my Rt hon Friend the Prime Minister,

accompanied by my rt hon and learned Friend, the Foreign

and Commonwealth Secretary, visited Peking, where the agreement was signed on 19 December.

CONFIDENTIAL