DSR 11C (Revised 5/87)
Chinese National People's Congress.
36.
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For the purpose of drafting the Basic Law, the
Chinese Government appointed a Basic Law Drafting
Committee (BLDC), comprising 59 members, 23 of them from
Hong Kong and the remainder from the mainland.
A Basic Law Consultative Committee (BLCC), consisting
exclusively of Hong Kong members representing a broad
spectrum of Hong Kong opinion, was established by the
BLDC with the task of soliciting the views of Hong Kong
people on the draft Basic Law.
In Confidence
37. The BLDC established five Special Groups
(dealing with the relationship between the central
authorities and the SAR, the economy, the political
structure, rights and duties of Hong Kong
inhabitants and education, culture and social
questions).
Discussion has taken place in these and
other groups, and in plenary meetings, all well reported
by the Hong Kong media. After more than two years'
work, the first draft of the Basic Law was published in
April 1988. A five-month consultation exercise,
conducted by the BLCC, was then held in Hong Kong. Two
delegations of mainland members of the BLDC, led by
senior Chinese officials, visited Hong Kong in June and
September 1988 to canvass public opinion on the Draft
Basic Law at first hand.
38. A wide range of views on various aspects of the
first draft was expressed during the consultation period.
In addition, in June and July 1988, both Houses of