TNAG-1388-FCO40-1859-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Sino-British-Joint-Declaration-1985 — Page 256

CONFIDENTIAL

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SHOULD SUGGEST THAT WE SHOULD KEEP THIS TARGET DATE CONFIDENTIAL FOR THE TIME BEING, AND ONLY ANNOUNCE IT NEARER THE TIME WHEN WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THERE WILL BE NO HITCHES.

5. IF ZHOU ASKED ABOUT PROGRESS OF THE BILL, THE AMBASSADOR SHOULD SAY THAT SECOND READING, COMMITTEE STAGE, REPORT STAGE AND THIRD READING STILL HAVE TO TAKE PLACE IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS. THESE STAGES ARE USUALLY TAKEN SEPARATELY IN THE LORDS AND CERTAIN MINIMUM INTERVALS BETWEEN THE STAGES ARE ESSENTIAL (UNLESS THE STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE ARE SUSPENDED: A MOST UNUSUAL COURSE

THERE IS ALSO THE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO NEED IN THE PRESENT CASE).

POSSIBILITY THAT IF ANY AMENDMENTS WERE MADE TO THE BILL IN THE LORDS IT WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK FOR A FURTHER STAGE IN THE COMMONS. THEREAFTER THE BILL WOULD HAVE TO RECEIVE THE ROYAL ASSENT. HE SHOULD ALSO POINT OUT THAT CERTAIN LEGISLATIVE STEPS ARE ALSO NECESSARY IN HONG KONG IN RELATION TO THE LAND COMMISSION AND THE DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES FOR THE CHINESE MEMBERS OF THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL: THESE ARE IN HAND, BUT WILL TAKE A

LITTLE TIME.

6. FINALLY THE AMBASSADOR SHOULD SAY THAT THE EMBASSY WILL CONTACT THE RELEVANT DEPARTMENT AT THE MPA IN DUE COURSE ABOUT THE TECHNICALITIES OF THE EXCHANGE OF INSTRUMENTS OF

RATIFICATION.

HOWE

HONG KONG AGREEMENT

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER) PS

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING

MR WILSON

SIR J FREELAND

MR J CROWLEY, PUSD

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COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET

OFFICE

MR CARTLEDGE, CABINET OFFICE MR D B C CHRISTOPHER. CABINET OFF. MR. EMERY BLL. H. OFFICE CROYDON MR. HYDE H-OFFICE

CONFIDENTIAL

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