CONFIDENTIAL
8
153757 MDHIAN 8157
HKB 373/1
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 11140OZ FCO
TELNO 128
OF 11123OZ JANUARY 89
INFO ROUTINE UKREP JLG HONG KONG
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
延
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7
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YOUR TELNOS 87, 88 AND 117: ADMISSION OF CERTAIN GOVERNMENT LAWYERS FOR PRIVATE PRACTICE
1. THANKYOU FOR YOUR HELPFUL COMMENTS. WE HAVE NOW FURTHER REWORKED THE SPEAKING NOTE AND Q AND A BRIEF AND AGREED THEM WITH UKREP JLG. THE REVISED TEXTS ARE IN MY TWO IFT'S.
2. WE HAVE ALSO PREPARED AN EXPLANATORY NOTE WHICH CONSISTS OF PARAS 6 TO 8 OF MY TELNO 71, WITH MINOR ADAPTATIONS.
3. WE HOPE THE REVISED PRESENTATION WILL REDUCE THE RISK OF THE CHINESE LINKING THE PRESENT PROPOSALS TO THE FOREIGN LAWYERS ISSUE. WE APPRECIATE THAT THERE IS STILL A RISK OF THAT HAPPENING AND HAVE INDEED TAKEN THAT INTO ACCOUNT IN CONSIDERING THE TIMING OF THE EXERCISE. WE BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD GO AHEAD NOW. FOR THE FOLLOWING
REASONS:
(A) THE PROPOSALS AND THE RELEVANT BILLS WERE APPROVED BY EXCO AS LONG AGO AS 26 JULY 1988. THE COUNCIL WAS INFORMED IN NOVEMBER OF OUR PROPOSAL TO INFORM THE CHINESE IN ADVANCE OF THE BILLS' PUBLICATION, WHICH WE THEN INTENDED FOR EARLY DECEMBER. THE TIMETABLE HAS ALREADY SLIPPED.
(B) THE FOREIGN LAW FIRMS ISSUE IS UNLIKELY TO BE RESOLVED FOR SOME TIME YET. WE ARE CONTINUING OUR EFFORTS TO ENGAGE THE LAW SOCIETY IN DETAILED DISCUSSIONS, BUT SO FAR THEY APPEAR TO BE INTENT ON PLAYING IT LONG AND ARE BEING UNRESPONSIVE. IN ANY CASE THERE IS A GOOD DEAL OF WORK TO BE DONE ON THE DETAILS.
(C) THE AUSTRALASIAN LAWYERS WITHIN GOVERNMENT HAVE SO FAR BEEN WAITING PATIENTLY. BUT THEY KNOW WHAT IS IN STORE AND SIGNIFICANT FURTHER DELAY IN BRINGING THE BILL FORWARD COULD LEAD TO RENEWED AGITATION AND AFFECT MORALE.
4. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR FURTHER COMMENTS DESKBY 13010OZ IF POSSIBLE.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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