TNAG-2174-FCO40-3111-Hong-Kong-Bill-of-Rights-1990 — Page 77

CONFIDENTIAL

013670 MDHCAN 3872

WITH THEM PRIOR TO THEIR ULTIMATE APPROVAL. IT WOULD ALSO DO SOME DAMAGE TO THE ROBUST LINE TONY GALSWORTHY HAS BEEN TAKING IN THE JLG ABOUT OUR DETERMINATION TO PUT THE BILL TO LEGCO BEFORE THE SUMMER RECESS.

4. OUR CURRENT THINKING IS TO PUT A REVISED DRAFT OF THE BILL, AMENDED IN THE LIGHT OF PUBLIC COMMENTS AND OUR OWN INTERNAL REVIEW, TO EXCO SOON AFTER MY RETURN FROM LONDON ON THE WEEKEND OF 7/8 JULY. WE WOULD RECOMMEND TO EXCO THAT THE BILL SHOULD BE INTRODUCED INTO LEGCO ON 25 JULY. THE DEBATE ON THE 2ND READING WOULD THEREFORE NEED TO RESUME AFTER THE SUMMER RECESS, WHEN LEGCO RECONVENES IN OCTOBER. BUT THE BILL WOULD THEN BE BEFORE LEGCO, AND THE PUBLIC DEBATE COULD CONTINUE IN CONSULTATION WITH OMELCO OVER THE SUMMER MONTHS. IT IS OF COURSE POSSIBLE THAT EXCO MIGHT PREFER THE BILL NOT/NOT TO GO FORWARD TO LEGCO THIS SESSION PENDING FURTHER WORK. IF THE ARGUMENT GOES THIS WAY I WOULD RATHER IT DOES SO AFTER EXCO DISCUSSION THAN AS DELAY INTRODUCED BY THE

ADMINISTRATION.

5. UKREP JLG CONCURS.

WILSON

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

16

LIMITED

HKD

ADDITIONAL

2

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS

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DISTRIBUTION

18

MR MCLAREN

MR BURNS

MS BARRETT, LEGAL ADVISERS