TNAG-2459-FCO40-3580-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-administrati-1992 — Page 56

CONFIDENTIAL

can

-

d. when the Bill is

introduction.

expected to be ready for

13. It is important to have realistic estimates to enable Ministers to plan the use of Parliamentary time. Over-optimistic timetables are unhelpful all round. Please be as specific as you indicating where possible 'early, 'mid' or 'late' when naming a month. In cases of doubt, earliest and latest dates should be given for each stage. Account should be taken of Parliamentary Counsel's absence on leave (during August and

September). Departments are strongly advised to consult their legal advisers on entries for dates for delivery of instructions.

Remarks

14. Use this section to make any further comments about the Bill of which FLG Committee should be aware.

ANNEX C

15.

This annex is for Bills your Department considers would be suitable, and can be made ready, for offering to Private Members

of the House of Commons who are successful in the Ballot for

Bills which will take place at the beginning of the 1992/93 Session. The purpose of putting together this list now is to avoid a rush of requests for policy clearance and drafting at the beginning of the Session when pressure of work on Government Bills will be at its greatest. Once Departments' proposals have been considered and agreed, it should be possible to carry out

preparatory work on at least some of the Bills in advance of the

Ballot. There is of course no guarantee that a particular Bill will be taken up. Your Department's list should include any

Bills which have been offered or introduced in previous Session

without success and which you have been offered or introduced in

previous Sessions without success and which you would like to

offer again.

CONFIDENTIAL