(MH) DURING 1986 AND 1987 DISCUSSION AND DRAFTING UNDER THE MAIN
HEADINGS WOULD BE CARRIED OUT. EACH MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE WOULD
DISCUSS ONE OR TWO HEADINGS. ON THIS BASIS A DISCUSSION DRAFT WOULD BE READY BY THE BEGINNING OF 1988 FOR PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION TO
PARTIES CONCERNED, AND TO ALL CIRCLES OF HONG KONG COMPATRIOTS, HN ORDER TO SOLICIT THEIR OPINION SEMICOLON
(A) IN THE COURSE OF 1988, BASED ON THESE OPINIONS, THE COMMITTEE
WOULD REWISE THE DISCUSSION DRAFT AND SUBMIT IT TO THE NPC STANDING
COMMITTEE AT THE END OF THE YEAR FOR DISCUSSION AND APPROVAL. A
DRAFT LAW WOULD THEN BE APPROVED AND THE OPHIONS OF ALL PARTIES AND
OF ALL GIRCLES IN HONG KONG SOUGHT ONCE AGAIN SEMICOLON
(MV) IN THE SECOND HALD OF 1989, THE COMMITTEE WOULD REWISE THE
DRAFT IN THE LIGHT OF THESE OPINIONS AND SUBMIT IT TO THE NFC N THE FIRST HALF OF 1990 FOR EXAMINATION AND PROMULGATION.
(V) THIS TIMETABLE WAS SUBJECT TO REVISION ACCORDING TO
CIRCUMSTANCES.
(C) WORKING METHODS. THE COMMITTEE SHOULD EXAMINE THE JOINT
DECLARATION CAREFULLY, IT SHOULD CARRY OUT ITS INVESTIGATHON AND RESEARCH WELL, AND SHOULD SEEK THE OPINIONS OF ALL CIRCLES IN HONG KONG AND EXAMINE THEM CAREFULLY. IT WOULD TAKE THE PRINCIPLE OF
DEMOCRATIC DISCUSSION AS THE BASIS OF ITS WORK. PROBLEMS WOULD NOT BE DIFFICULT TO SOLVE THROUGH SUCH DISCUSSION, TAKING RELEVANT PROVISIONS IN THE JOINT DECLARATION AS COMMON GROUND. THERE WOULD BE 2 OR 3 MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE A YEAR. EACH WOULD LAST ABOUT
FIVE DAYS. A PROPOSED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SECRETARIAT TO
HANDLE THE COMMITTEE'S DAILY WORK. HE REFERRED TO DISCUSSION
IN HONG KONG ABOUT A CONSULTATIVE ORGANISATION ON THE BASIC LAW. HE WELCOMED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SUCH A BODY. IT COULD COLLECT OPINIONS, SUGGESTIONS AND DOCUMENTS. HE HOPED HONG KONG MEMBERS
ON THE COMMITTEE WOULD SET UP SUCH AN ORGANISATION AT AN EARLY DATE.
THOMSON
HONG KONG AGREEMENT
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
DEP HD/PUSD
RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER)
PS
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR W HARD ING
MR WILSON
SIR J FREELAND
MR J CROWLEY, PUSD
COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET
MR MALLABY
OFFICE CABINET OFFICE R DRC CHRISTOPHER. CABINET OFF. SIR P CRADDOCK, No. 10 DOWNING ST.
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