TNAG-2325-FCO40-3369-Hong-Kong-Bill-of-Rights-policy-1991 — Page 154

CONFIDENTIAL

18 ARR. INY

20

Tel to the.

pe to replace file capy

RM 2314

HKC

KC241/5-

Ms Major

24 APR 1941

I

Sir J Coles

PS/Lord Caithness

бра

minti

22/4

FROM:

DATE:

Cc:

A R Paul

Hong Kong Department

18 April 1991

Mr Burns

Mr Davies, FED

Mr Wye, RAD

Mr Crystal, News D

Ms Barrett, Legal

Advisers

Mr Powell, Planners

Ms Evans, UND

PUSD (CN)

Content S 20/4

BILL OF RIGHTS: CONSULTATIONS WITH THE CHINESE

Problem

1. Should Hong Kong Government introduce amendments to the

Bill of Rights intended to address Chinese criticism, in the

absence of agreement from the Chinese that this would meet

their concerns.

Recommendation

2. I recommend that of the five amendments put to the

Chinese all but one amendment be introduced. The remaining

one (making the Bill subject to the Letters Patent/Basic

Law) should be introduced only if we get a clearer

indication from the Chinese before the Bill is enacted that

this would satisfy them. Legal Advisers agree.

TOMBBF/1

CONFIDENTIAL