TNAG-2737-FCO40-3950-Hong-Kong-Letters-Patent-1993-1993 — Page 24

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RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

3713.

From:

Miss S Brooks

Legal Counsellor

6

Miss

DESK OFFICER INDEX

REGISTRY Action Takan

Date:

31 March 1993

PA

Cc:

Paris

HKD

Mr Ricketts, HKD Mr Stevens, LES

$6

DRAFT LETTERS PATENT AND ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS

1. I have just heard from Mr Laverick of the Privy Council Office (telephone no 270-0490) that the draft instruments were not made after all this morning. This was due to an administrative oversight in the Privy Council Office. Apparently when they were received in the Privy Council Office, the officials involved understood that these were drafts which had to be commented upon, not draft instruments which had to be made at this Privy Council. The error was only spotted this morning after the Privy Council meeting was held.

2.

I have discussed with Mr Ricketts the question of holding a special Privy Council as offered by Mr Laverick. We agreed, however, that it would be neither necessary nor desirable.

3. You will wish to let Hong Kong know in a low key way that the draft instruments have not been made and will now be made on 12 May. Obviously we will have to take into account developments to do with the Electoral Bill. The draft Letters Patent and Royal Instructions will certainly have to be made before the Bill is enacted, and I would prefer them to be made before the third reading, but I believe this is unlikely to be until June or July.

Shelagh Brooks

Shelagh Brooks