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 system of the Hong Kong SAR would be prescribed in the Basic Law and would continue 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.
The
3. The Hong Kong SAR would enjoy a high degree of autonomy.
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 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. Chief officials would be nominated by the SAR
Government and appointed by the Central Government. Other officials
would be appointed by the SAR Government.
IMPLICATIONS
CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
5. Existing constitutional instruments relating to Hong Kong (eg
the Letters Patent and the Royal Instructions) would be revoked.
The provisions of those instruments which are relevant to the Government of the Hong Kong SAR would be replaced by similar