VBLAQR
CONFIDENTIAL
SIR Y K PAO'S VISIT TO BRITAIN: JUNE 1986
(b) HONG KONG: BASIC LAW
Background
1.
Sir Y K was invited by the Chinese to become a
Vice-Chairman (one of 8) of the Basic Law Drafting
Committee (BLDC) in June 1985. The BLDC has 59 members (23 from Hong Kong) and is chaired by Ji Pengfei, Director of State Council's Hong Kong and Macao Office. The Hong Kong
members of the BLDC have established a
Consultative Committee (BLCC) in the territory.
has 180 members from a wide cross section of Hong Kong
society, including 15 expatriates.
Law
Basic
The BLCC
2. We have welcomed the Chinese decision to consult Hong Kong people on a wide basis the drafting of the Basic
Law.
on
3.
The second meeting of the BLDC took place in Peking from 18-22 April. A draft "structure" of the Basic Law was approved and drafting can now begin in earnest.
"structure"
discussion.
substantially was
All
amended text which provides a reasonable framework
Basic Law in which all the
Declaration should be able
accommodated. The Chinese took
and to show
genuine debate
views.
This draft
following amended
lively
voted for the Hong Kong participants
for the
provisions of the Joint
to
be satisfactorily some pains to accommodate responsiveness
Hong Kong
to
CONFIDENTIAL