CONFIDENTIAL
Circulation of L Committee paper
L Committee meets
Notice of Presentation
First Reading of Bill
Publication of Bill and
explanatory Memorandum
Second Reading
29 March
3 April
3 April
4 April (pm)
5 April (pm) ?am
23 April
It would be preferable to publish the Bill in the morning in order to achieve simultaneous publication in Hong Kong in the early evening. (An afternoon publication would mean the early hours of the morning in Hong Kong.) In order to achieve this the Business
Managers have agreed that publication should take place the morning after First Reading (they would normally be concurrent).
4. A statement will be prepared for release on 4 April with the aim
of generating favourable press comment and to counter critical
comments from those opposed to the Bill. Home Office and FCO Ministers may also wish to invite selected leader writers and lobby correspondents for a briefing, perhaps over lunch, on 4 April. There might be advantage in a joint Home Office/FCO Ministerial
briefing. Mr Mower and Mr Whitehead will consider and advise Ministers accordingly. We shall need to ensure consistency between London and Hong Kong and, in Hong Kong, between the Hong Kong
Government and the British Trade Commission.
Excluded Categories
5. The Home Secretary is now minded to reinstate Health Associate
professionals and journalists. He will be writing to OD(K)
colleagues accordingly.
British Interests
6. During Mr Lloyd's recent visit to Hong Kong, a number of British
businessmen expressed concern that British interests were being
neglected under the package.
The Home Secretary is however still
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.