TNAG-2194-FCO40-3131-Hong-Kong-nationality-package-1990 — Page 110

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CONFIDENTIAL

At Mr Maude's request we have conducted a further round of

lobbying on international support in advance of his visit to Hong Kong and the publication of the Bill. The response is now more

encouraging and several countries have agreed that we can refer

publicly to the new measures they have taken or the scope for

flexibility under existing arrangements (Mr Paul's submission of

30 March).

Basic Law

6. The Basic Law is expected to be promulgated on 4 April. Ji

Pengfei's speech to the National People's Congress this week

contained helpful remarks on the relationship between the Basic Law

and the PRC constitution (one of the points we have raised with the

Chinese).

7.

Martin Lee intends to put down a LegCo motion on 4 April calling

for the Basic Law to be brought properly into line with the Joint

Declaration.

At Mr Maude's request, we have prepared detailed public lines on

all the more controversial provisions in the Basic Law (Mr Paul's

submission of 30 March).

8.

Bill of Rights

9. The draft Bill was published on 16 March for a 2 month period of

public consultation. The Chinese are insisting that the Bill of

Rights should be on the agenda for JLG XV (24-27 April). But they have not explained what their objections (if any) are to the

substance of the Bill.

Autonomy

10. Mr Maude has commissioned a further paper on ways of developing Hong Kong's autonomy before his visit on 7-11 April.

PADS

11. The outcome of Lord Young's discussions in Peking was generally

helpful. The Chinese have agreed not to comment publicly on PADS

unless invited to do so. Lord Young is calling on the Secretary of

State to discuss his visit on 3 April.

CONFIDENTIAL