TNAG-2218-FCO40-3186-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-Letters-Patent-and-R-1991 — Page 95

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TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

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TELNO 773

OF 221511Z APRIL 91

INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG

INFO PRIORITY PEKING

YOUR TELNO 1195: AMENDMENTS TO LETTERS PATENT AND ROYAL INSTRUCTING: PRIVY COUNCIL SUBMISSIONS

1.

THE PRIVY COUNCIL APPROVED THE AMENDMENTS TO THE LETTERS PATENT AND ROYAL INSTRUCTION ON 16 APRIL. THE ACTUAL DOCUMENTS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR SOME TIME.

2.

YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT A REPORTER FROM THE SCMP

(MS LANGFORD (?)) HAS GOT WIND OF OUR RECENT PRIVY COUNCIL SUBMISSION. SHE ASKED ABOUT WHEN THE DOCUMENTS WOULD APPEAR SHE KNEW THAT THEY RELATED TO THE POWERS OF GOVEROR BUT DID NOT MENTION THE BILL OF RIGHTS/ICCPR ASPECTS.

3

THERE IS NOTHING PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE IN THE AMENDMENTS. THE CHINESE HAVE HAD AMPLE NOTICE OF OUR INTENTION TO AMEND THE LETTERS PATENT FOR THE BILL OF RIGHTS/ICCPR ASPECTS. NEVERTHELESS IT MIGHT BE WORTHWHILE FOR GALSWORTHY TO INFORM GUO THAT THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED AND WILL BECOME PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE SHORTLY.

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SIR J COLES

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