TNAG-2573-FCO40-3759-Future-of-Hong-Kong-adaptation-of-laws-1992 — Page 26

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CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

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OF 020943Z NOVEMBER 92

AND TO PRIORITY PEKING

INFO PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG

ADAPTATION OF LAWS : CROWN IN RELATION TO LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES

WE HAVE PREPARED A DRAFT CONSULTATION PAPER ON THE ADAPTATION

OF LAWS ON THE CONCEPT OF CROWN IN RELATION TO LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES, WHICH IS CONTAINED IN MIFT.

1 -

2.

1 1

UNLIKE OUR FIRST ADAPTATION PROPOSAL ON THE POST OFFICE ORDINANCE, THIS IS AN ACROSS-THE-BOARD PROPOSAL INVOLVING SOME 88 ORDINANCES CONTAINING REFERENCES TO THE ''CROWN' IN RELATION TO LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES. IT IS PROPOSED TO CHANGE SUCH REFERENCES FROM THE ''CROWN' TO THE 'GOVERNMENT''. YOU WILL BE AWARE THAT SIMILAR CHANGES HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE TO THE WORDING

OF LEASE DOCUMENTS FOLLOWING AGREEMENT WITH THE CHINESE SIDE IN THE LAND COMMISSION IN AUGUST 1985, AND ON THAT BASIS, THE CHINESE SIDE SHOULD HAVE NO GREAT DIFFICULTY WITH THIS ADAPTATION

PROPOSAL.

3.

YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY INDICATED THAT YOU WOULD WISH TO CONSULT THE PALACE WHENEVER CHANGES AFFECTING THE CROWN ARE PROPOSED, AND MAY WISH TO DO SO IN THIS CASE. WE ARE SEPARATELY PREPARING A RESPONSE TO YOUR SUGGESTION FOR SEEKING BLANKET APPROVAL FOR ALL

MINOR CHANGES AFFECTING THE CROWN (BUNTEN'S LETTER OF 5 REFERS), AND WILL LET YOU HAVE IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

4 -

OCTOBER

WE HAVE INDICATED TO THE CHINESE SIDE THAT WE WOULD HAND OVER

THIS ACROSS-THE-BOARD PROPOSAL BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR AND

SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF CLEARANCE COULD REACH US EARLY TO ENABLE US TO PRESENT THIS PROPOSAL TO THE CHINESE SIDE NOT LATER THAN DECEMBER THIS YEAR.

PATTEN