TNAG-1714-FCO40-2393-Hong-Kong-amendments-to-Letters-Patent-and-Royal-Instruction-1988 — Page 129

SECRET

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 154

OF 181010Z JANUARY 88

SECRET

HRB 373/1

ARN

157564

MDHOAN 6858

TOP COPY @ DIST ?

YOUR TELNO 0122: AMENDMENTS TO LETTERS PATENT AND ROYAL

INSTRUCTIONS

1.

THE NEXT MEETINGS OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL TAKE PLACE ON 17 FEBRUARY AND IN THE WEEK BEGINNING 21 MARCH. THE AMENDMENTS IN THEIR FINAL PERFECT FORM NEED TO BE RECEIVED BY THE PRIVY COUNCIL OFFICE AT LEAST ONE WEEK BEFORE THE DATE OF THE MEETING.

2. FROM OUR FILES, IT SEEMS THAT ON THE LAST OCCASION WE NEEDED TO MAKE AMENDMENTS TO THE LETTERS PATENT (1986) THE PROCEDURE TOOK 2-3 MONTHS. WE SEE NO REASON WHY THIS TIMESCALE COULD NOT BE CONSIDERABLY COMPRESSED ON THIS OCCASION. BUT WE THINK IT WOULD BE UNREALISTIC TO AIM FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE AMENDMENTS AS EARLY AS THE FEBRUARY MEETING. WE THEREFORE PROPOSE TO PLAN ON GETTING ALL THE AMENDMENTS (INCLUDING THE LESS URGENT ONES)

DONE AT THE MARCH MEETING.

3.

OUR LEGAL ADVISER WILL NEED TIME TO CONSIDER THE AMENDMENTS, WHICH WILL ALSO NEED TO BE SUBMITTED TO MINISTERS FOR APPROVAL. WE UNDERSTAND THAT ABOUT A MONTH SHOULD BE ALLOWED BETWEEN MINISTERIAL APPROVAL AND THE PRIVY COUNCIL MEETING TO ALLOW FOR PRINTING AND ANY UNFORESEEN DELAYS THAT MAY ARISE.

4.

ALL THIS SUGGESTS THAT IT WOULD BE ADVISABLE IF YOU COULD LET US HAVE ALL THE DRAFT AMENDMENTS TO THE LETTERS PATENT AND ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. BECAUSE OUR LEGAL

ADVISER WILL BE ON LEAVE FROM 2 FEBRUARY UNTIL THE END OF THAT MONTH, IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IF THE DRAFT AMENDMENTS COULD REACH US BY THE LAST WEEK IN JANUARY.

HOWE

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