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GR 850
MKK040b25
CONFIDENTIAL
IN REGIS Pk? 11 JUN 1984
DESK OFFICEN
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 09034OZ JUN 84
INDEX
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1567 OF 9 JUNE
PA
TOP COPY
Action Takan
RAB 4/6 C2116
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON, PEKING
FOR CLIFT, HKD
OUR TELNO 1479: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: PUBLIC OPINION
1. THE PAST FORTNIGHT HAS SEEN ONLY ONE PUBLIC DOCUMENT OF THE KIND MENTIONED IN PARAGRAPH 1 OF YOUR LETTER TO MCLAREN OF 18 MAY. THIS WAS A PAPER PRESENTED BY THE HONG KONG AFFAIRS SOCIETY (A RECENTLY-ESTABLISHED GROUP OF YOUNG PROFESSIONALS CONCERNED WITH THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG) TO A SYMPOSIUM ON HONG KONG'S LEGAL SYSTEM AFTER 1997. (OUR TELNO 1493, PARAGRAPH 2).
+Kicon0/3 (188
2. THE PAPER (COPY FOLLOWS BY BAG) ARGUED THAT A WRITTEN CONSTITUTION, OR BASIC LAW, SHOULD FORM THE BASIS OF LEGITIMACY OF THE FUTURE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. IN SUMMARY THE BASIC LAW
WHOULD:
(A) REFLECT THE SPIRIT OF THE SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT ON HONG KONG'S FUTURE, PUBLIC UNDERTAKINGS BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, AND THE WISHES OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG FOR A BASICALLY LIBERAL, DEMOCRATIC AND RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT:
(B) CLEARLY DEFINE THE RESPECTIVE POWERS OF HONG KONG AND THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT (THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT MUST RESERVE POWERS
ON ''POLITICS-RELATED FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE, AND THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE SAR': WHILE INTERNAL SECURITY SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, WHICH SHOULD MAINTAIN ITS EXISTING INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS):
(C) INCLUDE A CHAPTER ON THE ''DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL
POLICY'' AND A DECLARATION OF BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS:
(D) PROVIDE FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THE PRESENT JUDICIAL AND LEGAL SYSTEM, AND UPHOLD JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE AND THE PROTECTION
OF THE TENURE OF JUDGES:
(E) BE DRAFTED BY A CONSULTATIVE COMMISSION IN HONG KONG WITH AN
ELECTIVE ELEMENT, SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY THE PUBLIC AND
BY 1996 SHOULD BE PASSED BY A REFERENDUM OF HONG KONG PEOPLE
SUBJECT TO ANY AMENDMENT WHICH THEY WISHED TO MAKE WITH THE
CONSENT OF THE N.P.C.
CONFIDENTIAL
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