85-03-18 17:57
• 007
FA136 17.55+
28404 HKGOVT G KEY+80262553+HX04. $2553 UMELC HX
28404 HKGOVT G
TELEX 0069 85-03-18 17:58
TO: SECRETARY GENERAL, UMELCO
FROM: LONDON OFFICE (WEBB-JOHNSON)
HKG0/1591/LM270
18 MARCH 1985
INFO: GALSWORTHY, FCO
HONG KONG BILL : LORD KADOORIE
HKK 040/2
E
itt
175)
1
2.
THE FCO HAS PASSED ON THE FOLLOWING ADVICE:
'UNFORTUNATELY, NO ONE IS IN A POSITION TO GIVE LORD KADOORIE THE ASSURANCE THAT HE MAY SPEAK FOR 7 TO 8 MINUTES. THE HOUSE OF LORDS KEEPS ITS OWN ORDER, AND IT IS OPEN TO ANY MEMBER TO OBJECT IF HE THINKS THAT A SPEAKER IS OUT OF ORDER. IF SOMEONE DID, THE LEADER OF THE HOUSE OR HIS REPRESENTATIVE WOULD HAVE TO RULE, AND IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE LORD KADORRIE WAS PLAINLY ACTING AGAINST THE CONVENTION OF THE HOUSE, WOULD HAVE LITTLE OPTION BUT TO CONFIRM THIS.
THAT SAID, LADY YOUNG WOULD OF COURSE NOT OBJECT TO LORD KADOORIE SPEAKING AND SHE AND THE WHIPS ARE WELL AWARE OF HIS DISTRESS AT NOT BEING ABLE TO ATTEND THE SECOND READING DEBATE. IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE HOUSE WOULD PROBABLY BE WELL ADVISED TO KEEP HIS SPEECH TO NOT MORE THAN 5 MINUTES. HE WOULD PROBABLY GET AWAY WITH THAT, BUT HE WOULD BE MOST SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THE SYMPATHY OF THE HOUSE, IF HE EXPLAINED AT THE BEGINNING OF HIS SPEECH THAT HE HAD BEEN UNABLE TO ATTEND THE EARLIER DEBATES BECAUSE OF ILL-HEALTH.
TWO POINTS ARE MOST IMPORTANT. HE SHOULD MAKE HIS SPEECH DIRECTLY RELEVANT TO THE BILL. DEPENDING ON WHAT HE WISHES TO SAY, HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO RELATE TO CLAUSE 1 ON TERMINATION OF SOVEREIGNTY. SECONDLY, HE SHOULD BE FULLY AWARE OF WHAT HAS BEEN SAID IN PREVIOUS DEBATES ON THE BILL, AND SHOULD NOT REPEAT THE POINTS MADE IN THEM. THAT WOULD FOR INSTANCE, MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT NATIONALITY QUESTIONS.'
I HOPE THIS IS HELPFUL. PLEASE PASS ON THIS ADVICE TO LORD KADOORIE IN FULL AND PROVIDE HIM WITH COPIES OF THE HANDSARD. ON THE SECOND READING (19 FEB) AND COMMITTEE STAGE (14 MAR).+-
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