TNAG-2858-FCO40-4112-Public-holidays-in-Hong-Kong-1993 — Page 4

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 1608

OF 140746Z OCTOBER 1993

INFO UKREP JLG HONG KONG, PEKING

+L.

HKC 227/1

нис

19

O

151273

MDHIAN 9071

per new file

is uu. 1993 "Public Molly's-He"

rpa.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN HONG KONG IN AND AFTER 1997

Summary

Comments requested on our proposed approach to the Chinese regarding changes to public holidays after 30 June 1997.

Detail

2. We have been working on a proposal to deal with public holidays in Hong kong in and after 1997. Although the subject should be a matter for the SARG, we need to finalise holidays for 1997 and 1998 well before 30.6.1997 as holidays for any particular year need to be decided at least eight months in advance of the beginning of that year to facilitate planning and preparation of diaries, etc.

3.

Our intention is to keep the existing public holidays intact as far as possible, incorporating only those changes that would be made necessary by the transfer of sovereignty. We propose exchanging the Queen's birthday and the monday following the Queen's birthday for the Chinese National Day Holidays on 1 and 2 October. The total number of holidays would remain unchanged.

4. We don not intend to propose 1 May, which is a general holiday in the PRC, as a holiday in Hong Kong after 1997 in the initial approach but would rather leave it to the Chinese side to suggest should they so wish. The Chinese may also be keen to make 1 July a

In both public holiday, being the establishment of the HKSAR. cases we could consider the Saturday preceding the last Monday in August and Liberation Day for exchanges.

5. We intend to go to ExCo later this month with a view to introducing the subject to the Chinese side in December/early 1994. Copy of the ExCo paper by fax. UKREP JLG concurs with our proposal.

6. Grateful for your comments.

PATTEN