TNAG-1408-FCO40-1883-Future-of-Hong-Kong-passports-and-visas-1985 — Page 47

CONFIDENTIAL

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1195 1

ACCURATE WE HAVE ALSO PUT DOWN THE QUESTION GIVEN IN OUR TUR IN THE

HOUSE OF COMMONS TODAY AND WILL ANSWER IT TOMORROW (4 DECEMBER)

IN THE TERMS GIVEN IN TUR.

3.

WE SEE NO NEED TO DRAW THE ATTENTION OF THE CHINESE TO

THIS HICCUP, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY REVEALS RATHER CLEARLY THE

INSPIRED NATURE OF THE PQ. IF THEY THEMSELVES QUESTION THE

ANNOUNCEMENT HAVING BEEN MADE FIRST IN THE LORDS RATHER THAN THE

COMMONS PEKING MIGHT SAY THAT IT IS QUITE NORMAL FOR QUESTIONS TO

BE ANSWERED IN BOTH HOUSES AND NOT UNCOMMON FOR PROCEDURAL

REASONS FOR THE DATE OF ANSWER TO SLIP BACK INTO THE FOLLOWING

DAY'S HANSARD.

HOWE

'HONG KONG AGREEMENT

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RES

(MR WALKER PRU

PS

COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS NEWS DEPT MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVS

MR PEIRCE. ABST STAFF

CABINET OFFICE

MR MALLABY CABINET OFFICE MR DRC CHRISTOPHER

CABINET OFFICE

SIR P CRADDOCK NO 10 DOWNING ST. MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS

PS/MR RENTON

PS/PUS

BIR W HARDING

MR WILSON

SIR J FREELAND

MR J CROWLEY PUSD PS/LADY YOUNG

CONFIDENTIAL

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