WORKING PAPER ON CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
STRUCTURES
THE CHINESE PLAN
1. The Hong Kong SAR, directly under the authority of the Central
Government, would be established in accordance with Article 31 of
the constitution of the People's Republic of China.
2. The basic systems of the Hong Kong SAR would be prescribed by
the National People's Congress in the Basic Law for the Hong Kong
SAR which would remain unchanged for a period of at least 50 years.
The Basic Law would be drafted and enacted by the National People's
Congress. It would deal with such matters as the social and
economic systems in the SAR, the relationship between the central
authorities and the SAR, the powers of and relationships between the
executive, Legislature and judiciary of the SAR and the rights and
obligations of its citizens.
3. The Hong Kong SAR would enjoy a high degree of autonomy. The
laws, decrees and regulations currently in force would remain
basically unchanged. The SAR Government could make its own Laws
which it would report to the Standing Committee of the National
People's Congress for the record. The Central People's Government would not intervene so long as the SAR made laws within the sphere
and limits of its authority as prescribed by the Basic Law and in accordance with the legal procedures.
4.
The Government of the Hong Kong SAR would be composed of local
inhabitants. The Chief Executive Official of the SAR and other
chief officials ie the Chief Secretary, the Financial Secretary and
the Attorney-General would be nominated on the basis of the results
of elections or consultations held locally. The people nominated
would be appointed by the Central People's Government. Other officials would be appointed by the SAR Government.
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