6. Another important step forward took place on 10 February with the publication by the Hong Kong Government of their White Paper on
the development of Representative Government. The House had an opportunity to express its views on the subject on 11 February and
the Government has taken careful note of them. While some members
took the view that the White Paper should have gone further, many others recognised the major importance of the decisions it
contained.
L
We are also most encouraged by the general reaction to the White Paper by Hong Kong people: there are of course some who are sharply critical. But I believe that the majority have welcomed
thevende hapt the White Paper This reinforces my view that it represents a balanced and reasonable response to the views of the community as a whole and will serve to maintain and enhance confidence in the
future because it offers the clear prospect of continuity in the development of Hong Kong's system of government over and beyond
1997.
7.
The next important date for Hong Kong will occur in early May. It is a date to which people in Hong Kong are looking forward with understandable interest and which has, I suspect, prompted the hon Member for Wrexham to raise Hong Kong in this morning's debate. In
early May the Chinese Government will publish the first draft of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The Basic Law is the legal instrument whereby the People's Republic of China will implement the policies for the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region as set out in the Sino-British Joint Declaration. As such, it will enshrine the fundamental principles of the Joint Declaration, namely that Hong Kong's capitalist system and lifestyle shall remain unchanged for 50 years, and that the Special Administrative Region will enjoy a high degree of autonomy, including executive legislative and independent judicial powers.
8. The method by which the Basic Law has been drafted reflects the concern of the Chinese Government to ensure that it meets the
concerns of the Hong Kong people and for it to provide for a smooth transfer of government in 1997. The Basic Law is being drafted by a Basic Law Drafting Committee set up by the Chinese Government. Almost half the members of this committee come from Hong Kong. has ensured that the people of Hong Kong have been involved in the
This