TNAG-2333-FCO40-3394-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Hong-Kong-Court-of-Final-Appeal-Hong-Ko-1991 — Page 51

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PCFM: Appeals.

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LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

My Major

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1.

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Mr Can

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my bevertantes

Mr Arthur- Ecau,

Legislative Programme 1991/92: FCO Bids

(19)

M

815

Your letter of 26 April asked for comments on the priority and political importance to be attached to FCO

bills which were awarded provisional fifth session

places; an assessment of the likely content and length,

political importance and state of preparation of FCO

bills identified as suitable for a first session; and

arguments on the basis of which the FLG can reconsider

the case for a provisional place for the Hong Kong

(Appeals) Bill.

The Hong Kong (Appeals) Bill

2.

I must press for a place for this Bill in the

1991/92 legislative programme. As I and my colleagues

have explained, the Bill, to remove the right of final appeal for Hong Kong people to the Privy Council, is an essential prerequisite to the establishment in Hong Kong

of a Court of Final Appeal. The Bill would be short

(about 3 Clauses) and uncontroversial. It would implement an existing policy, to which we are committed

in the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984, and which

is widely welcomed in Hong Kong. It in no way compares

to the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Bill which was

passed in the last session in its controversial nature

either in Hong Kong or the UK.