TNAG-2564-FCO40-3749-Future-of-Hong-Kong-localisation-of-laws-1992 — Page 12

CONFIDENTIAL

ZCZC

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG

TELNO

OF 171554Z NOV 92

INFO ROUTINE PEKING, PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG

PRIORITY

YOUR TELNO 2678: LOCALISATION OF LAWS: CAN LAPSE ITEMS

1. We are content with your draft speaking note and with the

List of "can Lapse" items.

2. We have been giving some thought to the question of how

exactly these laws will "lapse". For those which have been

applied to Hong Kong by Order in Council, the relevant Order may

have to be revoked so that the Act will cease to apply after

1997. This could be done either under the Hong Kong Act 1985 or

individually under the powers conferred by the particular parent

Act (a very time-consuming exercise). Alternatively these Orders

in Council may not need revocation at all - as with the other

Acts and Orders because legally they will not survive the

transition of sovereignty in 1997. We would be grateful for your views on what action will be necessary to ensure that "can lapse" items will cease to apply.

3.

-

In the meantime it would be useful to have a list of all the

HKD

J MARSHALL

Orders

270 3287