TNAG-1455-FCO40-1978-Hong-Kong-Letters-Patent-amendments-1986 — Page 62

IN CONFIDENCE

A

B

Background

3.

an

In March this year Hong Kong proposed, and Ministers agreed, that, in order to improve the handling of official business in the Council, the number of official members of LEGCO should be increased. Ministers also noted that

amendment

the Letters Patent

be would

required and agreed that, although Hong Kong had proposed an increase of only two official members, the Letters Patent should be amended to provide on a contingency basis for an increase of up to four officials. Hong Kong have subsequently

to

confirmed that Unofficials have also welcomed an increase

in the official membership.

4.

the

present

amendment

Separately, it is intended to use the opportunity of exercise to make two further

amendments to the Letters Patent and Royal Instructions. The first amendment, to the Letters Patent, would remove the requirement that Hong Kong land leases (many of which will now extend beyond 1997) should be issued in the name

of

Crown. the

other

to the amendment,

Royal

Instructions, would allow Hong Kong in an emergency to enact laws only in Chinese, rather than only in English, or

both in English

The

and in

Chinese,

as

the present

Instructions would permit.

Royal

9 June 1986

CO Hum

Hong Kong Department

IN CONFIDENCE