GRS 800
RESTRICTED
ADMIN IN CONFIDENCE
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1071
OF 110805Z APRIL 86
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
RESTRICTED
HKKO
RECL
GISTRY
1 4 APR 1986
AjB 14
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED : REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT AND
THE BASIC LAW.
THE JUST-PUBLISHED (APRIL) EDITION OF THE MIRROR MAGAZINE CARRIED YET ANOTHER ARTICLE, UNDER THE BY-LINE OF KOO SING-FAN, THE FUTURE POLITICAL SYSTEM OF HONG KONG.
ON
2. THE ARTICLE BEGAN WITH THE USUAL, AND BY NOW HACKNEYED, ACCUSATIONS OF BRITISH MOTIVES IN PROMOTING REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG. IT THEN WENT ON TO SAY THAT MAINTENANCE OF A CAPITALIST AND DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL SYSTEM UN THE SAR IS OF BENEFIT TO CHINA, IN HELPING CHINA TO FURTHER EXTERNAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES, IN ATTRACTING FOREIGN CAPITAL, IN AND STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM OF THE MAINLAND, HAN PROMOTING PEACEFUL REUNIFICATION WITH TAIWAN.
3. THE ARTICLE THEN WENT ON TO PROPOSE FOUR PRINCIPLES FOR THE
BASIC LAW :
(A) THE POLITICAL SYSTEM SHOULD BE IN LINE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION AND BE CONDUCIVE TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ONE-COUNTRY TWO-SYSTEMS'' CONCEPT. ALTHOUGH THE FORMAL AUTHORITY TO APPOINT THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND THE PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS REST WITH THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE WOULD BE SELECTED BY HK PEOPLE THROUGH CONSULTATION OR ELECTION HELD LOCALLY. HE WOULD THEN NOMINATE THE PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS FOR APPOINTMENT BY THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT. THIS HAS BEEN STIPULATED IN ARTICLE 3(4) OF THE JD. THE DETAILED PROVISION OF ANNEX TO THE JD MADE CLEAR THAT THERE WAS NO POSSIBILITY OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE BEING ELECTED BY THE LEGISLATURE. THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE WOULD ONLY BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE LEGISLATURE IN SO FAR AS HIS OBLIGATION TO ABIDE BY THE LAWS AND PROCEDURAL MATTERS ARE CONCERNED. THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE WOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE CENTRAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT ON MATTERS RELATING TO SOVEREIGNTY, AND TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ON ALL MATTERS OVER WHICH THE SAR WOULD HAVE AUTONOMY. THE FUTURE LEGISLATURE SHOULD HAVE RESTRAINING POWERS OVER THE EXECUTIVE
E. THE POWERS TO SUPERVISE, TO VOTE FUNDS AND TO ENACT
LEGISLATIONS.
RESTRICTED
/ (B)
215