SECRET
see (28
TOP COP!
HKR 011/3
НКК
RECE
MISTRY
31 JAN 1984
REGISTRY Motion Take?
GRS 250
SECRET
FM HONGKONG 311100Z JAN 84
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 252 OF 31 JANUARY
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
M.L.P.T.
INDE)
по 1 тик
FCEB
21
FUTURE OF HONG KONG : WORKING PAPER ON CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
ETC.
1. OUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS PAPER HAS BROUGHT OUT THE GREAT IMPORTANCE OF CONSIDERING VERY CAREFULLY THE EXACT NATURE OF THE IMPORTANT PROVISIONS WHICH WOULD NEED TO BE SET OUT IN THE BASIC LAW IF IT IS TO BECOME IN EFFECT THE CONSTITUTION FOR HONG KONG.
THE FORMULATIONS IN THE PAPER WOULD REQUIRE MUCH MORE WORK BASED ON
ADVICE FROM LEGAL ADVISERS BEFORE THEY COULD BE REGARDED PRECISE
ENOUGHT FOR THE PURPOSE. THERE ARE ALSO WE BELIEVE ADDITIONAL POINTS
WHICH COULD USEFULLY BE COVERED TO ENSURE THAT THE BASIC LAW COULD
BE FITTED TOGETHER WITH THE HONG KONG LEGAL SYSTEM AND GOVERNMENT
STRUCTURES AS THEY WILL EXIST BY 1997.
2. THERE IS IN ADDITION THE ISSUE OF HOW IT WOULD BE ARRANGED THAT THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THE PRC CONSTITUTION WOULD NOT BE APPLIC-
ABLE TO THE SAR WHERE THEY ARE INCONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS
OF THE BASIC LAW.
3. THIS NEED NOT HOLD UP THE CONSIDERATION OF THE PAPER BY
MINISTERS AND GIVING IT TO THE CHINESE ON A 'NO COMMITMENT''
BASIS. BUT IT WILL BE IMPORTANT WHEN TABLING THE PAPER TO MAKE
CLEAR THAT IT PRESENTS GENERAL PROPOSITIONS WHICH WOULD NEED TO
BE REFINED BEFORE THEY COULD SENSIBLY BECOME THE BASIS OF
CONSTITUTIONAL LEGAL INSTRUMENTS WHICH COULD PROVIDE ADEQUATE
ASSURANCES TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. WE DO NOT WANT A SITUATION
SECRET
IN WHICH