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SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 04090OZ FCO
SECRET
HKR OILLI
TELNO 986
OF 04024OZ APRIL 86
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
INDE
PART ONE OF TWO
ED IN REGISTRY - 7 APR 1986
NCER
PA
TOP COPY
RY
Taken
AJBY
MY SECOND PT: REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT. THE BASIC LAW AND THE
1987 REVIEW.
THE QUESTION OF CONVERGENCE
DURING THE MEETING OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP IN PEKING ON NOVEMBER
26-29, 1985 BOTH SIDES AGREED ON THE NEED TO ACHIEVE CONVERGENCE
BETWEEN ANY REFORMS TO THE STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG
BEFORE 1997 AND THE STRUCTURE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE HONG KONG SAR
AFTER 1997, AND TO CONDUCT DISCUSSIONS AND EXCHANGE VIEWS ON THIS
SUBJECT WITHOUT PRECONVEIVED IDEAS.
2. THE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG HAS
BEEN BASED ON THE PRINCIPLE OF BUILDING ON THE EXISTING INSTITUTIONS
WHICH HAVE SERVED HONG KONG WELL: WHILE ALLOWING FOR FURTHER
DEVELOPMENT, IF THAT SHOULD BE THE WISH OF THE COMMUNITY. PAPER
NO. 1 DESCRIBES HOW THE PRESENT GOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTIONS IN HONG
KONG OPERATE IN PRACTICE AND THE INTER-RELATIONSHIP OF THE VARIOUS
ELEMENTS IN THE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE. IN PAPTICULAR THE GOVERNOR,
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
3. PAPER NO. 2 DESCRIBES THE PRESENT STATE OF HONG KONG OPINION
ON THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM FOLLOWING
THE REVIEW IN 1987. ESSENTIALLY THERE IS LIKELY TO BE LITTLE CALL
FOR ANY FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE IN THE STRUCTURE: THE MAIN ATTENTION
IS LIKELY TO BE FOCUSSED ON THE QUESTION OF INTRODUCING A NUMBER
OF DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND ON THAT
OF THE PRESIDENCY OF THAT COUNCIL.
THE JOINT DECLARATION
J
4. UNDER ARTICLE 3(12) OF THE JOINT DECLARATION THE POLICHES STATED
IN THE DECLARATION AND THE ELABORATION OF THEM IN ANNEX I TO THE
DECLARATION WILL BE STIPULATED IN THE PASIC LAV: THE JOINT
DECLARATION CONTAINS A NUMBER OF PROVISIONS ON THE STRUCTURE AND
OPERATION OF THE FUTURE SAP GOVERNMENT. THESE ARE:
(A) EXCEPT FOR FOREIGN AND DEFENCE AFFAIRS WHICH APE THE
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CENTRAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLES'
REPUBLIC OF CHINA, THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION SHALL
BE VESTED WITH EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE AND INDEPENDENT JUDICIAL
POWER INCLUDING THAT OF FINAL ADJUDICATION : «
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