TNAG-2177-FCO40-3114-Hong-Kong-Bill-of-Rights-1990 — Page 202

CONFIDENTIAL

(316)

044606 MDHIAN 0668

CONFIDENTIAL FM HONG KONG

HKD241/1 D241

TO DESKBY 2409OOZ FCO

TELNO 2842

OF 240645Z SEPTEMBER 90

2 J SEP 1990

Y

Taken

TOP COPY hy

Q DIST?

INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG, PEKING

hu

24/9

315

YRTELNO 1747: BILL OF RIGHTS

1. WE ARE CONTENT WITH THE RENEWED DRAFT SUBSECTION PROPOSED IN TUR, EXCEPT FOR THE PHRASE GIVE EFFECT TO', WHICH WE WOULD PREFER TO REPLACE BY QUOTE IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNQUOTE. THE REASON

FOR THIS ARE:

A) FROM A LEGAL DRAFTING POINT OF VIEW, WE DO NOT THINK QUOTE TO GIVE EFFECT UNQUOTE IS APPROPRIATE, SINCE ARTICLE VII(3) OF THE LP ITSELF WILL HAVE LEGAL EFFECT AUTOMATICALLY.

2.

OUR

CONCERN HERE IS THAT TO COMMIT OURSELVES TO USING THE FALL-BACK POSITION NOW MAY LEAD TO DELAY. THIS COULD CAUSE LOCAL POLITICAL PROBLEMS, GIVEN THE STRONG EXPECTATION HERE THAT THE BILL OF RIGHTS WILL BE PASSED BY LEGCO THIS YEAR. YOU WILL NO DOUBT WISH TO CONSIDER THIS POINT FURTHER BEFORE THE JLG MEETING BEGINS.

WILSON

YYYY

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