TNAG-2333-FCO40-3394-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Hong-Kong-Court-of-Final-Appeal-Hong-Ko-1991 — Page 110

RESTRICTED

MR GAREL-JONES' MEETING WITH THE FUTURE LEGISATION

COMMITTEE,

29 JANUARY

LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME 1991/92: HONG KONG (APPEALS) BILL

Points to Make

- We are committed in the Joint Declaration to establishing

a Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong to replace current right of appeal to the Privy Council.

-

We aim to establish the Court in 1992 to give it a running

in period under British sovereignty before Hong Kong reverts

to China.

- We have stressed the importance of the 1992 deadline to the Chinese Government in our negotiations about the detail

of the Court's establishment.

-

We are now close to agreement with the Chinese on those

details.

-

we

If we fail to secure a slot in the 1991/2 programme,

shall be unable to establish the Court until mid to late

1993.

Effects of this delay:

a) disappoint Hong Kong public opinion (1992 target is widely known);

b) Hong Kong Government will be frustrated at delay for

purely UK reasons;

RIDAIQ/1

RESTRICTED