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(IV) PARAGRAPH 6: WE ALREADY KNOW THAT THE INTERNAL AUTONOMY OF THE SAR WILL BE LIMITED BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE BASIC LAY. WE CONSIDER IT ESSENTIAL TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS IS THE HYPOTHESIS ON WHICH WE ARE WORKING. IN ADDITION, WE ASSUME THAT THE SECOND SENTENCE IS NOT INTENDED TO CHALLENGE THE STATEMENT THAT THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT WOULD BE COMPETENT ON QUESTIONS OF FOREIGN POLICY AND DEFENCE. WE CERTAINLY
WE SUGGEST THAT THE SEE NO POINT IN CHALLENGING THIS THESIS. WHOLE PARAGRAPH DE REDRAFTED TO READ -
''SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE BASIC LAW, THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SAR WOULD HAVE POWERS TO CONDUCT AUTONOMOUSLY ALL MATTERS RELATING TO THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF THE SAR, AND TO CONDUCT AUTONOMOUSLY ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL EXTERNAL RELATIONS. THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FOREIGN POLICY AND DEFENCE QUESTIONS AFFECTING HONG KONG, BUT WOULD CONSULT WITH THE SAR GOVERNMENT ON SUCH MATTERS''.
(V) PARAGRAPH 7: (A) THE FIRST SENTENCE IS UNCLEAR.
WE SUGGEST-
**IN ORDER TO PRESERVE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY IN HONG KONG IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO PRESERVE CONFIDENCE. THE PRESERVATION OF CONFIDENCE WILL REQUIRE THE MAXIMUM POSSIBLE CONTINUITY OF INSTITUTIONS, AND THESE INSTITUTIONS WILL NEED TO BE SEEN TO BE EXERCISE FREELY THE AUTONOMY PROVIDED FOR IN THE BASIC LAW** (E) THE CHINESE WILL SEE THE REFERENCE TO WITHOUT OUTSIDE INVOLVEMENT' IN THE LAST SENTENCE AS IMPROPER. THEY DO NOT REGARD THEMSELVES AS OUTSIDE. WE SUGGEST REDRAFTING THE SENTENCE TO ... INSTITUTIONS EXCLUSIVELY FROM WITHIN THE
SAR'
1
(VI) PARAGRAPH 9: WE SUGGEST THAT THE WORDS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG SHOULD BE DROPPED. IT LOOKS AS THOUGH WE ARE PROPOSING A REFERENDUM IN EACH CASE. PRESUMABLY THE SAR LEGISLATURE WOULD BE COMPETENT
TO MAKE SUCH DECISIONS.
(VII) PARAGRAPH 10: WE THINK THAT THE SENTENCE SHOULD BE REDRAFTED: "THEIR ELECTION WOULD BE NOTIFIED TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND THEIR APPOINTMENT SUBJECT TO ITS FORMAL .CONFIRMATION!!. IN PRACTICE, WE CONSIDER IT LIKELY THAT THE
CHINESE WILL INSIST THAT THE FORMAL APPOINTMENT AT LEAST OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE SHOULD BE DONE BY THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT.
WE VIL!) PARAGRAPH 11: AS STATED IN MY TELEGRAM NO 104, CONSIDER IT ESSENTIAL TO RETAIN THE FINAL SENTENCE OF THE FORMULA IN HONG KONG TELNO 113 ( THE APPOINTMENT WOULD BE CONSIDERED TO HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED UNLESS FORMAL OBJECTIONS
DAYS WERE RECEIVED FROM THE LATTER WITHIN ...
IT LOOKS AS THOUCH (IX) PAPAGRAPH 16: AS AT PROSEKT DRAFTET THE WORDS MALL THE ABOVE INCLUDE THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS. THIS VOULD SUPELY BE INCONSISTENT WITH PARAGRAPH 5 OF THE FASES.
༈ ༈
**}.
WE SUGGEST THAT THE WORDS
/(x)
ALL THE ABOVE'' BE REPLACED BY THE REGIONAL COUNCILS
AND DISTRICT BOARDS",
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