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THERE WERE VERY REAL DRAWBACKS TO A REFERENDUM. IN THE SPECIAL
POLITICAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG IT IS IMPORTANT TO AVOID
THE RISK OF PROVOKING FACTIONAL DIVISIONS WHICH COULD LEAVE THE
OUTCOME OF A REFERENDUM, OPEN TO REAL DOUBT. IN HONG KONG, WHERE THERE HAS NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED ANY PATTERN OF UNIVERSAL SUFFERAGE
FOR ALL ELECTIONS, IT WAS CONSIDERED THAT THE BEST WAY TO OBTAIN
AN ASSESSMENT OF THE FULL RANGE OF OPINION ON THIS COMPLEX MATTER
WAS BY CONSULTATION THROUGH THE WELL-DEVELOPED CHANNELS FAMILIAR
TO LOCAL PEOPLE.
Q7. WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO CRITICISM VOICED HERE THAT THE
ASSESSMENT OFFICE WAS A ''SHAM'' AND A COSMETIC EXERCISE''?
A7. SUCH CRITICISM IS UNFAIR. PARLIAMENT EXPECTED TO HAVE A CLEAR
VIEW OF HONG KONG OPINION WHEN IT DEBATED THE DRAFT AGREEMENT
AND THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE PROVIDED THAT. IT WAS PARTICULARLY
VALUABLE THAT THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE REPORT SHOULD HAVE SET OUT
SUCH A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF THE CONCERNS OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE.
THIS LIST WAS NOT ONLY VALUABLE TO PARLIAMENT BUT WILL ASSIST
DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS IN THE JOINT
LIAISON GROUP ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT.
JOINT LIAISON GROUP
Q8. WILL THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP INCLUDE MEMBERS OF UMELCO?
A2. THE BRITISH DELEGATION WILL INCLUDE OFFICIALS FROM THE HONG
KONG GOVERNMENT AND THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE FULLEST
CONSULTATION WITH THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND WITH OTHER REPRESENT-
ATIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
Q9. THE WHITE PAPER STATES THAT THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE JOINT
LIAISON GROUP WILL REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL. BUT WILL THERE BE
REGULAR STATEMENTS FROM THE GROUP EXPLAINING PROGRESS MADE IN
THE DISCUSSIONS?
A9. THE EXACT WORK METHODS AND PROCEDURES FOR THE JLG WILL BE
WORKED OUT NEARER THE TIME.
BASIC LAW
Q10. WERE YOU ABLE TO ASCERTAIN FROM THE CHINESE LEADERS HOW THE
PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WOULD BE INVOLVED IN THE DRAWING UP OF
THE BASIC LAW.
A10. TO BE SUPPLIED.
Q11. DID THE CHINESE LEADERS GIVE ANY INDICATION OF WHAT THE BASIC
LAW MAY CONTAIN?
A11. THE BASIC LAW IS GOING TO BE PRODUCED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF
CHINA BUT IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT FEATURE THAT THE PROVISIONS
OF THE AGREEMENT WILL BE INCORPORATED IN. THAT BASIC LAW.
NATIONALITY
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