TNAG-1409-FCO40-1885-Future-of-Hong-Kong--localisation--of-UK-legislation-applica-1985 — Page 4

OCMIAN 2114

CONFIDENTIAL

PP HOKON

FM FCOLN TO HOKON

061600Z DEC

GRS 307

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG

TELNO 1932 A

OF 061600Z DECEMBER 85

INFO PRIORITY PEKING

CONFIDENTIAL

2114 1

нии 040 135 040135

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

10 DEC 1985

DECK OFFICER

INDEX

EGISTRY

PA

tion Taken

w

14

HONG KONG TELNO 2710 AND PEKING TELNO 1782: HONG KONG AGREEMENT:

RESTRICTED: LOCALISATION OF LAWS

1.

THE ARGUMENT FOR DRAWING THE CHINESE SIDE'S ATTENTION TO

THE REFERENCE TO LOCALISATION OF LAW IN THE ANNUAL REPORT IS NOT

CLEAR CUT. THE NEED TO LOCALISE WAS MADE CLEAR IN THE

DEBATES ON THE HONG KONG BILL EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND REFERRED TO

IN THE PRINTED EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM ATTACHED TO THE BILL. WE

ARE WORRIED THAT BY DRAWING ATTENTION TO THIS ONE PARTICULAR

POINT IN THE WHITE PAPER WE MIGHT START AN UNNECESSARY HARE. WE ACCEPT HOWEVER THAT THERE IS A DANGER THAT THE CHINESE MIGHT MISUNDERSTAND THE REFERENCE IN PARA 13 OF THE ANNUAL REPORT, AND WE AGREE ON BALANCE THAT IT IS WORTH MENTIONING THE MATTER TO THE

CHINESE.

2.

ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT HONG KONG ARE NOT PROPOSING TO

PUBLISH THE ANNUAL REPORT SEPARATELY WE SHALL NOT BE ABLE TO GET

COPIES TO PEKING UNTIL AT LEAST ONE WEEK AFTER PUBLICATION. WE

THEREFORE THINK THAT INITIALLY THE EMBASSY SHOULD DO NO MORE THAN

TELL THE CHINESE IN ADVANCE OF THE DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE REPORT AND PROMISE THEM COPIES AS SOON AS THEY ARE RECEIVED.

WE THINK THAT THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT ANY

3.

MISUNDERSTANDING ON THE LOCALISATION QUESTION WOULD THEN BE FOR

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