TNAG-1384-FCO40-1832-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-citizenship-1985 — Page 132

ITS VIEWS WITHOUT HAVING TO OPPOSE OR REJECT THE ORDER AS A WHOLE. I HOPE THAT THE HOUSE WILL FIND THAT PROCEDURE TO BE OF HELP IN ENABLING ITS VIEWS TO BE TAKEN FULLY INTO ACCOUNT BEFORE THE DRAFT ORDER IS FINALLY SUBMITTED FOR AFFIRMATIVE

RESOLUTION.'

IN OTHER WORDS THE SEQUENCE WILL BE AS FOLLOWS

(1) PUBLICATION OF TDRAFT ORDER:

(2) PUBLIC CONSULTATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND IN HONG KONG: (3) PRELIMINARY DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT :

(4) WITHDRAWAL OF THE DRAFT ORDER AND REVISION TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF

VIEWS EXPRESSED, IF NECESSARY:

AND

(3) RE-SUBMISSION TO PARLIAMENT TO BE DEALT WITH IN THE NORMAL WAY

UNDER THE AFFIRMATIVE RESOLUTION PROCEDURE.

SIR GEOFFREY HOWE, THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, SAID DURING THE SECOND READING OF THE HONG KONG BILL IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ON 21 JANUARY 1985 THAT HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT INTENDED TO MAKE THE ORDER AT AN EARLY DATE AND, AT THE LATEST, WITHIN A YEAR OF THE PASSAGE OF THE HONG KONG BILL, I.E. BY APRIL 1986. THE EXACT TIMETABLE FOR STEERING THE

ORDER THROUGH PARLIAMENT HAS YET TO BE

DECIDED BUT IT IS LIKELY

THAT THE DRAFT ORDER WILL BE PUBLISHED BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR. ARRANGEMENTS ARE BEING MADE TO ENSURE THAT THE DRAFT ORDER IS GIVEN THE WIDEST PUBLICITY, PARTICULARLY IN HONG KONG.

PLEASE REST ASSURED THAT VIEWS EXPRESSED WILL BE FULLY CONSIDERED AND THE DRAFT ADJUSTED, IF NECESSARY BEFORE PARLIAMENT IS FINALLY ASKED TO APPROVE IT.

D. AKERS-JONES

CHIEF SECRETARY

ENDS.

YOUDE

HONG KONG AGREEMENT: NATIONALITY.

LIMITED

HD/HKD HD/FED HD/NTD

RESEARCH DEPT.(MR WALKER)

D/HD PUSD

PS

PS/MR LUCE

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING MR WILSON

COPIES TO:

>

MR ROBERTS NEWS DEPT. MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVISERS

MR GRAINGER, LEGAL ADVISERS MR HYDE, HOME OFFICE

HOM

MR NICHOLSON, PASSPORT DEPT,

OFFICE. MR EMERY, B4 DIV, HOME OFFICE,

CROYDON.

Mr Miller, MVD

-2-

CONFIDENTIAL