TNAG-2690-FCO40-3892-Hong-Kong-Her-Majesty-s-Overseas-Civil-Service-(HMOCS)-poli-1994 — Page 43

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also possibly The Chimely Sries reachdy to the draft legislation,

highly embarrassing for the UK if ratification were delayed beyond 1994. The need for the Bill will fall away if it succeeds as a Private Members Bill in the current session but there is of

course no guarantee that this will be so. The FCO department concerned (SAAD) would wish this Bill to have greater priority,

ahead of the Crown Agents Privatisation Bill. Serial F (Commonwealth Institute (Dissolution) Bill) is classified as contingent because discussions are still continuing over the re-organisation of the Institute but it is fairly likely that the route which will be chosen to reorganise the Institute will be

one which will require legislation. In that event a Bill will be required in the 1994/95 session. Serial G (Hong Kong Appeals Bill) will depend on when the Governor considers it would be

timely to introduce legislation in Hong Kong to establish a Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong. The need for such legislation becomes more pressing as 1 July 1997 approaches and if the

Governor sees a window to enact the Hong Kong legislation in

1994/95 it will then be essential for the UK legislation to be

enacted as soon as possible thereafter. Serial E (Hong Kong

Overseas Public Services Retirement Benefits Bill) should ideally

be introduced in the 1994/95 session but could slip to the early part of the 1995/96 session. Since the Compensation and Pensions Safeguards Scheme has to be in place by 1 July 1996, it will be

essential for the Bill to be introduced by the 1995/96 session at

the latest. It would be desirable for Serial H (CSCE (Privileges

and Immunities) Bill) to be introduced in 1994/95 if the

Legislative Programme permits. But since none of the CSCE

offices or officials will be in the UK it would be difficult to

claim that the Bill should have a high priority.

5.

The above would suggest the following FCO bid in priority

order: -

(1)

European Communities

(Austrian, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish) Accession Bill

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