TNAG-1413-FCO40-1889-Future-of-Hong-Kong-annual-report-to-Parliament-on-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 12

CONFIDENTIAL

can be published on 18 December,

be laid before

include latest

if Ministers

approve the draft

JLG

by 4 December. 18 December is the last date on which the report can

the end of the session.

The report does not

developments, including the rather difficult

meeting with the Chinese last week. But to attempt to update it would mean holding it back until January: it would also be difficult

to deal satisfactorily with the subject matter of this last

meeting, on some of which there is basic

which agreement

still

needs formal confirmation. I a m sure

is it is better to publish as

now rather than hold it back.

6.

Publication of the report on 18 December might coincide with

the Commons adjournment debate on the Hong Kong Nationality Order in

Council, which is likely to take place between 10 and 19 December.

While there is danger that such a coincidence

le ad could

the whole

a

a

the

debate to stray into Hong Kong matters other than nationality, on

coincidence would be an advantage,

in that attention

would be drawn to the report without the necessity of agreeing to a

debate separate

it on

an undesirable

precedent. The Home Office are aware of the impending publication

of the report.

which

establish would

7.

When

C

State

submitted we

commented

on the form of the report the Secretary of

that he did

not

see

D

the

almost would

the

certainly want to

any need

publication.

for the

Governor

to

The Governor

send over

a

ल

United Kingdom for

re turn to

said that UMELCO

delegation for the debate on the Nationality Order in Council, which he pointed out could coincide with the publication of the report.

He

suggested

the

un toward

nearer

a

decision

on

his

should leave

presence until

fact he has now told us that unless anything

is

the

before UK

not

proposing

to

come to

that we

time. In

he happens

January or February next year. UMELCO are postponing a whether or not to come until after the LegCo debate this week.

2 December 1985

Kriálomá

A C Galsworthy

Hong Kong Department

decision

on

7

CONFIDENTIAL