COMPATIBILITY OF CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENTS WITH BASIC LAW
Hong Kong developments with
about how to ensure
11.
The Chinese have given no guarantees that recent
constitutional developments will be endorsed by the Basic
Law.
This is increasingly giving
to questions
Can
in the
the compatibility of the make
rise
be
for necessary
While the Chinese Law.
there to be informal
it will clearly
contacts with the
Chinese
over
the
next
f ew
maximum
degree
of
compatibility,
effect would be very damaging to confidence in Hong Kong, where it would be interpreted as capitulation to Peking.
years
any
to
en sure
the
statement
to
this
amet прост ķ China
this
DEBATE IN LEGCO ON BASIC LAW
12.
(who
un?
A newly elected LEGCO member, Mr Martie Lee QC also happens to be
to be a member of the Chinese-appointed Basic W Law Drafting Committee) has said that he intends to propose The Chinese consider the Basic Law. on
Chinese
Prime Minister said publicly in Hong
a
debate in
the
Basic
a
LEGCO
Law
Government and the
December
matter exclusively
Kong
indeed be
on
21
1984
for
them.
I f
that
its
for the
the Hong Kong Government debate there could therefore be Chinese protests.
actual drafting would
allows
If they
a
do not allow
critici sm press
to concern
possible
a
debate
there however,
free that
speech on
Hong Kong's people
matter a
was being
suppressed.
could be Hong Kong
of vital
A
course
to
follow (which
we
have
put
to
the
Governor at
to to allow a debate official level) would be
for the Hong
it
take place if pressure
for
Kong Government
to make
considered the drafting of
Chinese Government,
in advance
and to
in the hope of
Chinese
This question is
safest
still under consideration and it would be
for Mr Renton,
to say that it is a question for LEGCO.
one became great,
the debate that clear during
the Basic Law a matter for the
Our explain
intentions to
objections.
the
defusing
if pressed on
the matter in public,