TNAG-1388-FCO40-1859-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Sino-British-Joint-Declaration-1985 — Page 166

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BY ME TO ZHOU ON THE TIMING OF RATIFICATION.

BLUNT COMMENTED THAT

WE HAD PROPOSED THAT THIS TAKE PLACE SOME TIME IN THE WEEK

BEGINNING 27 MAY. LI COUNTERED THAT ZHOU STILL AWAITED A

RESPONSE TO HIS SUGGESTION THAT THE DATE FOR THE EXCHANGE OF

INSTRUMENTS OF RATIFICATION BE ADVANCED TO EARLY OR MID MAY (MY

TELNO 464) (LI REFERRED TO THE FIRST TEN DAYS OF MAY'). BLUNT

POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH ROYAL ASSENT HAD BEEN GRANTED TO THE

HONG KONG BILL, CERTAIN ENABLING LEGISLATION IN HONG KONG STILL

REMAINED TO BE COMPLETED. HE UNDERTOOK TO REPORT LI'S COMMENTS.

I HAVE NOT REPEATED THIS TELEGRAM TO HONG KONG AS I NOTE

THAT YOUR TUR WAS NOT SO REPEATED. YOU MAY HOWEVER WISH TO

REPEAT BOTH TELEGRAMS.

ENDS.

HOWE

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