TNAG-2233-FCO40-3206-Visits-by-the-Office-of-Members-of-the-Executive-and-Legisla-1991 — Page 14

CALL ON LORD CAITHNESS BY MR RON ARCULLI, 10 DECEMBER

POINTS TO MAKE

LegCo Debate on Court of Final Appeal

-

Have seen reports of the debate in LegCo [34 in favour;

11 against; 4 abstentions; 9 non-voters]. Disappointed not

more members were impressed by the arguments of the

Chief Secretary, the Attorney General and the

Secretary for Constitutional Affairs.

- Perhaps, in months to come, members might reconsider those

arguments and ask themselves whether they may not be letting

the best be the enemy of the good.

Can be no question of reopening an agreement reached in

the JLG. That is a fact of life.

- The simple question is: do people in Hong Kong want a

Court of Final Appeal to start working soon, or do they want

to wait till 1997?

Consultation with LegCo on JLG Issues

- We have an obligation (JD 196) to maintain the

confidentiality of JLG discussions.

- It would in any case severely undermine our negotiating position to debate it publicly in advance.

-

Nevertheless the Hong Kong administration will be keeping in touch with LegCo over a very wide range of issues.

KAYAAO/1