CONFIDENTIAL
12367-1
MDHIAN 4890
THIS LONG AND COMPLEX DOCUMENT HAS
EMERGED
FROM A TWO-YEAR DRAFTING
ORCESS IN WHICH HONG KONG PEOPLE PLAYED AN IMPORTANT PART. THE
CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY ATTACH GREAT
IMPORTANCE TO THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ON THE DRAFT.
MAINLAND MEMBERS OF THE DRAFTING COMMITTEE HAVE VISITED THE TERRITORY TWICE. THEY HAVE SHOWN A REFRESING WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN TO VIEWS ON THE FIRST DRAFT AND TO TAKE THEM INTO ACCOUNT WHEN
IT IS REVISED.
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174. THE SECOND DRAFT OF THE BASIC LAW WILL BE PUT TO THE STANDING
COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS NEXT YEAR AND WILL THEN
BE PUBLISHED FOR FURTHER CONSULTATION. THE FINAL VERSIONS IS
SCHEDULED FOR PROMULGATION IN 1990. THE BASIC LAW WILL SET OUT THE
CONSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE
REGION FOR THE 50 YEARS AFTER 1997. BUT BEFORE THAT DATE INDEED
AS SOON AS IT IS PUBLISHED IT WILL BE A CRUCIAL FACTOR IN MAINT-
AINING CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG'S UTURE BOTH HERE AND OVERSEAS.
THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL BE LOOKING TO THE BASIC LAW TO STATE
IN CLEAR AND WORKABLE TERMS THE DETAILS OF THE POLICIES SET OUT IN
THE JOINT DECLARATION AND ITS ANNEXES INCLUDING THE PROVISION OF
A HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY UNDER THE FORMULA OF ''ONE COUNTRY TWO
SYSTEMS'' SO TOO WILL THE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY WHOSE
INVESTMENTS ARE SO IMPORTANT TO HONG
•
P
KONG.
(C) JOINT LIAISON GROUP/LAND COMMISSION
OPEN SQUARE BRACKETS TO BE UPDATED AFTER JLG X CLOSE SQUARE
BRACKETS.
175. THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP AND THE LAND COMMISSION HAVE
CONTINUED TO MAKE GOOD PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTING THE JOINT
DECLARATION. THE JLG REACHED AGREEMENT ON HONG KONG'S CONTINUED
PARTICIPATION AFTER 1997 IN EIGHT MORE INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS, INCLUDING THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION, THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION, THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY AND INTERPOL. FOLLOWING AGREEMENT IN THE JLG, HONG KONG HAS CONCLUDED ITS OWN AIR SERVICE AGREEMENTS WITH SWITZERLAND, CANADAD OPEN SQUARE BRACKETS AND BRUNEI CLOSE SQUARE BRACKETS. OTHER SEPARATE
AGREEMENTS ARE BEING NEGOTIATED. CONSENSUS HAS ALSO BEEN REACHED
ON IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TERMS OF SERVICE OF THE JUDICIARY.
176. FOLLOWING AGREEMENT IN THE LAND COMMISSION, THE GREAT MAJORITY OF LAND LEASES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES HAVE NOW BEEN EXTENDED, BY LEGISLATION APPROVED BY THIS COUNCIL, TO THE YEAR 2047. THE TWO SIDES ALSO AGREED TO A LAND DISPOSAL PROGRAMME FOR 1988/89 WHICH
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CONFIDENTIAL