CONFIDENTIAL
VISIT OF SIR Y K PAO, JULY 1987
Background
A. REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT
Sir Y K shares Chinese concern over the pace of
constitutional change in Hong Kong and has in the past sought to
reflect these to Ministers.
1.
B. BASIC LAW
2.
Sir Y K is one of 8 Vice-Chairmen of the Basic Law Drafting
Committee (BLDC). He does not play a very active part.
3.
The most recent plenary meeting of the BLDC, its fourth, took
place from 13-17 April in Peking. As far as we know, Sir Y K was
present. Quite a lot of progress has been made, particularly in
five Special Groups established to look at specific areas, in drawing up draft articles. We have been monitoring the process
carefully and feeding in thoughts as and how we can. So far the
drafts follow the Joint Declaration satisfactorily. But there are
difficult areas, mostly technical and legal in nature, where we are
seeking to bring some influence to bear. Sir Y K is not, however,
suitable channel.
a
4.
We understand the overall programme for the drafting of the
Basic Law to be:
(a)
(b)
Preliminary text produced by the Drafting Committee in early
1988. Published in Hong Kong for consultation;
Revised draft Basic Law produced in late 1988-early 1989 for
submission to the Chinese National People's Congress (NPC)
Standing Committee. Draft published in Hong Kong;
CONFIDENTIAL
BACKGROUND