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4.
The UMELCO delegation which met the Secretary of State before
the Second Reading debate asked the Government not to introduce the
new title into the Bill until the people of Hong Kong had had an
opportunity to comment on it.
Since then the House of Commons
committee stage has been postponed by 10 days. Press reaction in
Hong Kong to the new title has been generally favourable. Some
worries have been expressed but there has been no outright rejection
of the new title and no better title has been
suggested. In view of
the public reaction in Hong Kong and the lack of a sustained
suggestion of any alternative title EXCO have now decided
the incorporation of the new title in the Bill at the committee
stage in the Commons. The Governor endorses their advice.
5.
Parliamentary Counsel has proposed a draft amendment which is
acceptable to Hong Kong and Peking. He also advises that it is
customary when a Bill is considered by a committee of the whole
House to put such an amendment down in the name of the Minister who
introduced the Motion on Second Reading, even though that Minister
does not intend personally to move the amendment or to participate
in the debate. I therefore recommend that the Department's Legal
Counsellor should be authorised to ask the Parliamentary Counsel to
put down the amendment in the Secretary of State's name although Mr Luce will be guiding the Bill through the committee stage.
6. I also recommend that the Government Whips should be informed of
intention to proceed in this way.
our
team
A C Galsworthy
30 January 1985
Hong Kong Department
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