TNAG-1439-FCO40-1923-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 126

SECRET

No

Telno 851

I have no comments.

Telno 852

I have the following comments:

Para 6

: merely to give the Joint Declaration etc the force of law would be inadequate since the Joint Declaration is very weak on the structure of Government. Para 7(b) recognises this, but I think it should be reflected also in para 6.

Para 10(a)

I would have thought one needed to insert the words "or ordinances" after the words "the common law".

Item 21 of the Annex is, perhaps, a little brief. It is not only that there should not be a different SARG waiting in the wings; a whole lot of matters, legislative, judicial, executive, decision- making, officials, need to be the subject of transitional provisions.

Banks fort.

Paul Fifoot

SECRET