TNAG-2325-FCO40-3369-Hong-Kong-Bill-of-Rights-policy-1991 — Page 161

behind-

CONFIDENTIAL

HKC241/5

CONFIDENTIAL FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 1059

OF 101043Z APRIL 91

11/4

INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

20

21

067366

MDHIAN 1520

TOP COPY

Q DIST?

Как

for 1/4

YRTELNO 679: BILL OF RIGHTS (BOR)

1. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS IN TUR WHICH WE ARE CONSIDERING

AND WILL REVERT A.S.A.P.

2. THE UNRELATED AMENDMENTS MENTIONED IN PARA 4 OF OUR TELNO 933

REFER TO OUR DECISION TO CHANGE THE FREEZE ARRANGEMENT AS SUGGESTED BY THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP, I.E. TO PROVIDE FOR A ONE- YEAR SELECTIVE FREEZE PERIOD ON EXISTING LEGISLATION, TO BE EXTENDED BY ANOTHER YEAR WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE LEGCO. THE TENTATIVE LIST OF EXISTING LEGISLATION TO BE SUBJECT TO THE SELECTIVE FREEZE IS AT MIFT. IN FACT, THERE ARE A FEW MINOR TEXTUAL AND NON-CONTROVERSIAL AMENDMENTS WHICH WE HAVE ALREADY

AGREED WITH THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP. A LIST OF SUCH AGREEMENTS FOLLOWS BY FAX TO MS MAJOR (HKD).

,

3. ON TIMING DEPENDING ON THE PROGRESS OF OUR DELIBERATION OF THE SUBJECT OF INTER-CITIZEN RIGHTS, WE ENVISAGE CONSULTING EXCO ON 23 OR 30 APRIL ON BOTH THE AMENDMENTS TO MEET THE CHINESE CONCERN AND INTER-CITIZEN RIGHTS. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR MINISTER'S VIEWS BEFORE WE GO TO EXCO. AFTER INFORMING THE CHINESE SIDE OF OUR POSITION, WE WILL PUT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP IN LATE APRIL/EARLY MAY.

X

x 7

WILSON

YYYY

MAIN

61

.HONG KONG AGREEMENT

.(RESTRICTED)

LIMITED

DISTRIBUTION

63

PUSD

RAD

PS/LORD CAITHNESS

PAGE

1

CONFIDENTIAL