TNAG-2553-FCO40-3728-Hong-Kong-Bill-of-Rights-review-of-legislation-1992 — Page 127

CONFIDENTIAL

ZCZC

CONFIDENTIAL

IMMEDIATE

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO

OF 09170OZ JANUARY 92

INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

O

YOUR TELNO 56: BILL OF RIGHTS: REVIEW OF LEGISLATION

1.

None of the options available to us for handling the

question of consultation with the Chinese on amending these

ordinances to bring them into line with the Bill of Rights (BOR)

is free from difficulties. But we agree that, if ExCo are

content, it is right to publish and proceed with the amendments

to the Prevention of Bribery and ICAC ordinances without further

advance discussion with the Chinese and that we should consider

handling of subsequent amendments case-by-case. Subject to your views and those of other addressees, we believe that we should

however let the Chinese know of the publication of the draft

BEFORE MANU) amendments shortly, as a courtesy.

2. There may be tactical advantage in trying to get the first

two amending bills enacted as quickly as possible and not

introducing the other four until after Qian Qichen's visit here

on 9-10 March.

HURD

FUTABH/TG

HKD

DR S D HARKIN

3287