CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 26160OZ FCO
TELNO 3187
OF 26123OZ SEPTEMBER 89
INFO DESKBY 27010OZ PEKING
CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 011
011 15
172611
IDHIAN 7201
TOP COMI Q DIST?
(41)
MY 3RD IPT: MY ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL : 11 OCTOBER
DRAFT TEXT ON THE BASIC LAW IS AS FOLLOWS:
(B) THE BASIC LAW
41. THE SECOND DRAFT OF THE BASIC LAW WAS PUBLISHED IN FEBRUARY.
IT WAS GENERALLY SEEN AS A CONSIDERABLE IMPROVEMENT ON ITS
PREDECESSOR. GRATEFUL NOTE HAD CLEARLY BEEN TAKEN OF POINTS MADE IN HONG KONG DURING THE CONSULTATION PERIOD LAST YEAR. RECENT
EVENTS IN CHINA HAVE REFOCUSSED PUBLIC ATTENTION ON THE BASIC LAW.
I HAVE ALREADY REFERRED TO THE VARIOUS MODELS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT FORWARD WITH REGARD TO THE COMPOSITION OF THE LEGISLATURE. ANOTHER AREA WHICH HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF MUCH DEBATE IS THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN THE CENTRAL AUTHORITIES AND THE SAR GOVERNMENT. I HOPE
THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL USE THIS FINAL PERIOD OF
CONSULTATION TO PUT FORWARD THEIR VIEWS ON THE DRAFT OF A DOCUMENT
WHICH WILL BE OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THEIR FUTURE.
42. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY INTEND TO
PUBLISH THE BASIC LAW NEXT SPRING. ITS CONTENTS WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON HOW PEOPLE, BOTH LOCALLY AND OVERSEAS, VIEW THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG. A BASIC LAW THAT MEETS THE MAIN POINTS OF
CONCERN IN HONG KONG CAN GO A LONG WAY TO RESTORING CONFIDENCE IN
THE FUTURE OF THE TERRITORY. I THEREFORE URGE THE BASIC LAW
DRAFTERS TO BE RECEPTIVE TO THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THE DRAFT IN
HONG KONG DURING THE CURRENT CONSULTATION PERIOD AND TO TAKE THEM
CAREFULLY INTO ACCOUNT. THERE IS A GREAT DEAL AT STAKE.
WILSON
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