VBLAQR
CONFIDENTIAL
SIR Y K PAO'S VISIT TO BRITAIN: SEPTEMBER 1986
(b) Hong Kong: Basic Law
Background
1.
Sir Y K is one of 8 Vice-Chairmen of the Basic Law
Drafting Committee (BLDC).
2.
Five special sub-groups of the BLDC have been established to look at detailed aspects of the Basic Law. A round of special group meetings took place recently: the
groups on the economy, rights and
CPG/SAR obligations, relations and on the political system all met in Xiamen in the last week of August. Discussion in the first three
to generally
encouraging: consensus
reached on a number of sensible provisions or principles for incorporation in the Basic Law. Predictably, there was much less consensus in the group on the political system. Opinions remain divided, both between Hong Kong and mainland members and among Hong Kong members, particularly
seems
on:
have been
was
(a) selection of the Chief Executive;
(b)
the
relationship between the executive and the
legislature;
(c) selection and composition of the legislature.
We are giving thought to whether and how we might influence the debate. The next meeting of this special group is 6-8
November.
CONFIDENTIAL