1989-03-23 13:50 G.1.9
33 P.33
Whole process again. We've done the most thorough consultation that we could produce of what the people in Hong Kong think and have takaa the decisions as a result of that. The next stage in our evolution. 1995. going to depend on what I have called mirror, imaging Of what happens after 1997. So
in 1995 we are going to be constrained, OT indeed encouraged forward because it's going to
a major move forward for us in 1995. by what's laid down in the Basic Law when that comes out.
be
base
Edward Rowlands:
Sorry can I just persist. The Basіс Law is taking 23 its
the progress you have almost made, perhaps by adding five members. If between now and 1997 it emerged. and the best way to check it is by a form of referendum. that in fact that there was a greater wish for a greater percentage of elected members. Legislative Council that could be represented
the chines Government as the new base for directly elected members for the post- 1997 Legislative Council, and would at least accelerate by some degree the process of general democracy.
to
the
"
Well I think the
Governor:
timing is such that the Basic Law will be enacted in 1990 that's next year and that will lay dawa what the composition of the legislature is going to be after 1997 and then if we wish to know in image what the composition is going to be in
1995. The only other comment
T would make on that is that I think there has been a process of, 23 iz wer? parallel movement going There have been a lor of views expressed in Hong Kong about what of Speed
We should move ac towards a more representative
of government and
have taken certain decisions as a result cf an assessment of that opinion and in parallel with that. Chinese views in drafting the Basic Law have also moved forward. So that we now have а Базіс Daw which is perhaps different from what it would have been someone had set about drafting it five years 100.
Q:
فع لها
ora
Could we turn. Sir. to the question of the transfer Of sovereignty. We have heard this morning that there : 3 going to be a period of reorganising and localising the legal system and I wonder if you could tell us how far you have progressed on that.
Governor:
What we have to do is to make Sure that any of our legislation that depends on the United Kingdom is localised before 1997 and we have started on that process but we have got a long, long way to go. There is an immense amount of work for our lawyers in Hong Kong yet to do.
0:
I think we'd better adjourn the Committee for ten minutes because members may want to vote on this important business. I'm sorry Sir David We are demanded to be in two places 3 C once. which makes life a little difficult. but in the light Of that the enquiry is adjourned for 10 minutes.
22