TNAG-1395-FCO40-1867-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1985 — Page 95

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FM F C O 2217352 FEB 85

TO PRIORITY KATHMANDU

TELEGRAM NUMBER 17 OF 22 FEBRUARY

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG

YOUR TELNO 20: HOUSE OF LORDS DEBATE ON HONG KONG

1.

PA

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an

Gu 29/2

THE SECOND READING DEBATE ON THE HONG KONG BILL IN THE HOUSE

OF LORDS TOOK PLACE ON 19 FEBRUARY.

2. THE DATES OF THE REMAINING STAGES HAVE NOT YET BEEN MADE

PUBLIC, BUT YOU MAY TELL LORD KADOORIE IN CONFIDENCE THAT THE

COMMITTEE AND REPORT STAGES WILL PROBABLY TAKE PLACE ON 14 MARCH

AND THE THIRD READING WILL PROBABLY TAKE PLACE ON 28 MARCH.

3. WE ASSUME THAT LORD KADOORIE IS THINKING OF COMING HERE TO

SPEAK IN THE DEBATE, THOUGH WE DO NOT KNOW WHETHER HE IS THINKING

OF INTERVENING ON SPECIFIC POINTS IN THE BILL, OR MAKING A

GENERAL SPEECH. WE HAVE THEREFORE HAD AN INFORMAL WORD WITH

THE WHIP'S OFFICE, WHO HAVE OFFERED THE FOLLOWING ADVICE. THE

THIRD READING DEBATE IS NOT REALLY A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR EITHER

TYPE OF SPEECH, SINCE SPEECHES FROM THOSE WHO HAVE NOT

PARTICIPATED IN EARLIER DEBATES ARE NORMALLY EXPECTED TO BE VERY

SHORT (NOT MORE THAN THREE MINUTES). THE COMMITTEE STAGE

WOULD GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE POINTS OF DETAIL ON THE BILL.

IT IS NOT AN IDEAL OPPORTUNITY FOR A GENERAL SPEECH, THOUGH IT

MIGHT BE POSSIBLE FOR LORD KADOORIE TO SAY SOMETHING MORE GENERAL

ON THE 'CLAUSE STAND PART' DEBATES EITHER ON CLAUSE 1

(TERMINATION OF SOVEREIGNTY) OR THE SCHEDULE, THE MAIN POINT IN

WHICH IS NATIONALITY QUESTIONS. THE EXACT FORM OF THE COMMITTEE STAGE DEBATES IS HOWEVER UNLIKELY TO BE CLEAR UNTIL MUCH NEARER

THE TIME, WHEN PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, IF ANY, ARE KNOWN.

HOWE

MINIMAL

HKD

PS/LADY YOUNG

MR WILSON

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