TNAG-2177-FCO40-3114-Hong-Kong-Bill-of-Rights-1990 — Page 117

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Mr Burns

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CONFIDENTIAL

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DATE:

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352

Hong Kong DepartmentHKD241

2 November 1990

70

FROM:

A R Paul

CC:

Mr McLaren

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Mr Davies, FED

- 7 NOV 1990

Mr Fifoot, Legal Advisers

Mr Walker, RAD

PS/Lord Caithness 3/11

HONG KONG BILL OF RIGHTS

A mess Paul

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up.

Fefoot,

of 4/10 sums it

1.

I submit a situation report from the Governor on the

Bill of Rights (Hong Kong telno 3135). No decisions are required but the Minister may wish to be aware of the state of play on enactment and the main difficulties which still

exist.

B

Timing

2.

The draft Bill of Rights ("Blue Bill") was introduced

into LegCo on 25 July. Hong Kong Government expected its second reading to take place in mid-November and the Bill to become law by the end of the year. The LegCo ad hoc group, however, need more time to study the Bill. Hong Kong

Government's latest estimate is that the Bill will become

law in early 1991.

Form of the Bill

3. As the Governor points out (paragraph 3 of his telegram), a policy decision was taken early on that the

RIDAHF/1

CC

CONFIDENTIAL