CONFIDENTIAL
3196 - 1
PERMANENT IDENTITY CARDS, WHICH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WISH TO ISSUE FROM 1 JULY 1987, TO REMAIN VALID UNTIL THEY ARE REPLACED
AFTER 1997 BY IDENTITY CARDS OF THE HONG KONG SPECIAL
ADMINISTRATIVE REGION.
(F) LEGISLATION AND TREATIES
13.
IN DUE COURSE HONG KONG WILL ASK FOR ORDERS IN COUNCIL TO BE
MADE, UNDER THE HONG KONG ACT 1985, ENABLING THE HONG KONG
GOVERNMENT TO ENACT LOCAL LEGISLATION TO REPLACE UNITED KINGDOM
LAWS WHICH AT PRESENT APPLY TO HONG KONG. EXAMPLES OF SUCH LAWS
ARE THOSE RELATING TO MERCHANT SHIPPING AND CIVIL AVIATION.
TREATIES AFFECTING HONG KONG, AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR SETTING UP A
COURT OF FINAL APPEAL IN HONG KONG, ARE ALSO BEING LOOKED INTO.
SOME OF THESE SUBJECTS, PARTICULARLY THE QUESTION OF ENSURING THE CONTINUED APPLICATION OF INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS
AFFECTING HONG KONG, WILL BE DISCUSSED WITH THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP.
(G) SHIPPING
14.
IN MAY 1985 THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ISSUED A CONSULTATIVE
DOCUMENT OUTLINING INITIAL THINKING FOR A SEPARATE, AUTONOMOUS
HONG KONG REGISTER OF SHIPPING: THERE WAS A CONSTRUCTIVE RESPONSE
FROM THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY, WHICH IS NOW BEING STUDIED.
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT
III.
15. FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN
WORKING TO DEVELOP IN HONG KONG A GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE BASED
SECURELY UPON EXISTING INSTITUTIONS WHICH AT ALL LEVELS WOULD BE
BOTH RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF A RAPIDLY DEVELOPING SOCIETY AND
APPROPRIATE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF HONG KONG'S STABILITY AND
PROSPERITY. HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT, WHO OF COURSE REMAIN ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG, HAVE
THROUGHOUT GIVEN THEIR AGREEMENT AND SUPPORT TO THIS PROCESS.
THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPHS DESCRIBE BOTH THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
AND THE CHANGES MADE AS A RESULT OF THE NOVEMBER 1984 HONG KONG
WHITE PAPER.
(A) DISTRICT BOARDS
16.
WHILE A REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM OF LOCALLY ELECTED ELDERS AND
COUNCILS SERVING THE INDIGENOUS POPULATION OF THE NEW
2
CONFIDENTIAL