CONFIDENTIAL
MR McLAREN MR BURNS
From:
Fn Rerman
Deputy Legal Adviser
HKC370/8
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
Mr
1901,
HKD
Date:
26 February,
C.
PS
27 FEB 1991
EEK OFFIC
REGISTRY
INDEX
PA
Action Taken
1991
PS/Mr Garel-Jones PS/Lord Caithness PS/PUS
Mr Edis, EAD PRU
Miss Brooks Legal Cllr
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME, 1991/92
1. I am afraid that, despite the Department's efforts (and mine behind the scenes with the Cabinet Office), the FLG Committee has definitely turned down the Hong Kong (Appeals) / Bill: see the Lord President's Memorandum attached. The
reasons are given in paragraph 11, but in the usual lapidary form. One has to read between the lines the Committee's gut feeling that Hong Kong = controversy.
2. You will wish to consider whether to brief the Foreign Secretary to argue against this in Cabinet, or even to get in an early minute to the Prime Minister.
3. It is particularly galling that the Hong Kong (Appeals) Bill has, so to speak, been turned down out of hand, whereas other FCO bids ranking lower in the overall scheme of political priorities have had better treatment. I am thinking in particular of the Mauritius (Republic) Bill, which is both contingent to the point of the hypothetical and non-urgent, yet has been included in a list of Bills to be given contingent drafting authority, as candidates for inclusion if 1991/92 should be the first full Session of a new Parliament. I wonder therefore if the time may not have come to offer a trade from within the FCO basket. Could I leave you to pursue that direct with EAD and PRU?
F D Berman
Cabinet briet.
M/s Majur
This
We need to report disappointing outcome to HK.
I are inclined to try
*1.
24/2
CONFIDENTIAL
Rak
Pas 27/2
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