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PLAN TO PUT THEM THROUGH THE PRIVY COUNCIL AS SOON AS SUCH A BILL IS PROPOSED BY LEGCO, THAT IS, WELL BEFORE IT COULD POSSIBLY BE ENACTED. HOWEVER, GIVEN THE VERY SENSITIVE NATURE OF SUCH A BILL, THE SCOPE FOR US TO DELAY ITS PASSAGE HERE IN FACT OF A DETERMINED EFFORT BY A SUBSTANTIAL GROUP TO PUSH IT THROUGH COULD BE RATHER LIMITED. THIS MEANS THAT WE WOULD NEED TO BE ABLE TO PROCESS THE NECESSARY LP AMENDMENT MUCH MORE QUICKLY THAN USUAL (SAY, IN 4 TO 6 WEEKS).
13. OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT ANY AMENDMENT MADE TO THE LETTERS PATENT IN UK WOULD ONLY COME INTO EFFECT WHEN PUBLISHED IN HK. IF SO, AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH WOULD BE TO TAKE ALL THE NECESSARY STEPS NOW TO HAVE THE LP AMENDMENT EXCEPT FOR PUBLICATION IN HK. SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT WOULD GUARANTEE THAT WE COULD BRING THE AMENDMENT INTO FORCE AT A TIME OF OUR CHOICE. THIS WOULD OF COURSE REQUIRE SECRECY BOTH IN UK AND HK. IT WOULD ALSO BE SUBJECT TO YOUR CONFIRMATION THAT PUBLICATION IN UK IS NOT A STATUTORY REQUIREMENT. I AM NOT ATTRACTED BY THIS APPROACH, BECAUSE THERE MUST BE SOME RISK OF A LEAK AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF A LEAK WOULD BE VERY DAMAGING. BUT I SHOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHETHER, TECHNICALLY, IT IS AN OPTION.
14.
PROVIDED THAT A SCHEME CAN BE SET UP ALONG THE LINES OF PARA 12 ABOVE, (B) SEEMS TO BE THE LESS DIFFICULT ANSWER TO THIS DIFFICULT PROBLEM. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
60
.HONG KONG AGREEMENT
. (RESTRICTED)
LIMITED
HKD
PUSD
HD/FED
NEWS D
DISTRIBUTION
64
PLANNERS
RAD
PS/LORD CAITHNESS PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD
SIR J COLES
MR BURNS
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