7
4
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Hi
15.
an internal and international problem, or else other people will doubt what we are doing.
1
I am not going to answer your questions one by one. You can, in fact, find the answers from what I have said on various occasions in Hong Kong. I hope that you would keep in contact with members of the Consultative Committee. You may also contact the Drafting Committee direct. This would enable us to sort out and sum up your opinions. The reason for setting up a Consultative Committee is that all its members, who are based in Hong Kong, have a deep understanding of the situation and can thus reflect public opinion. If one chooses not to contact the BLCC, one may, of course, contact the Drafting Committee.
16.
As regards the problem of civil service, the Joint Declaration has already covered this aspect. We attach much importance to this problem. The basic principle has already been set. There should not be any major reform in Hong Kong. There may be slight changes through consultation and discussion between the Chinese Government and the British Government, but not by the Hong Kong Government alone. There have to be consultations before major changes taking place. Membership of the International Labour Organization will remain unchanged and so will other established practices.
17.
Priority in considering the political structure: The Joint Declaration has not stipulated whether priority can be given in discussing this issue. This involves the question of sovereignty. The government machinery and political structure of "one country, two systems" have to be decided by the Basic Law and cannot simply rely on the present situation. It is not sure whether the set up of Executive and Legislative Councils will remain in future, nor is it certain that consideration
/ will
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