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by
the
Congress.
The Basic Law Drafting Committee appointed
National People's Congress has met on three occasions in Peking. 23
its 59 members come from Hong Kong. Five Special Groups have
of
groups.
range
been established to consider particular areas of the Basic Law.
Mainland members of the Special Groups
the Special Groups have made study tours to Hong
Kong where they have consulted
wide a
of
and individuals
The Special Groups have made progress reports to the full
Basic Law Drafting Committee. It is expected that on the basis of
the Drafting reports
Committee will,
the course of 1987,
consider drafts of individual articles of the Basic Law.
draft is due to be published in 1988.
these
19.
in
A full
The Basic Law Consultative Committee in Hong Kong has also
been active in collecting the views of the Hong Kong people and
reflecting these to the Basic Law Drafting Committee.
20.
Her Majesty's Government welcome the steps taken by the
Chinese Government to consult the people of
Hong Kong on a wide
basis
to the drafting of the Basic Law, and will continue on
the drafting process closely.
follow
V.
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT
21.
three
separate
Last year's report described in some detail the historical background to the development of representative government in Hong
Kong, which
structured now
but framework of a
inter-connected tiers: District Boards, Municipal Councils and the
Legislative Council.
22.
is
on
The District Boards are advisory bodies established in each
of the 19 urban and New Territories administrative districts. Some
two-thirds of District Board members are directly elected, on the
franchise which includes all adults over the
age of
who have resided
for in Hong Kong
a minimum of 7 years.
third of members
appointed by the Hong
basis
of
a
years
remaining
are
21
The
Kong
Government.
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