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Then there is the drafting of the Basic Law. This
is a consultative process between the Government of China
and the people of Hong Kong. The Basic Law will be Hong
Kong's future constitution. It will contain all the
elements agreed in the Joint Declaration. It will set out
in greater detail the structure of government post 1997.
Debate on the Basic Law was interrupted by the events of
June 4. It has now started again. Amongst other things a
range of ideas have been put forward by the people of Hong
Kong on how the future legislature should be formed.
Let me stress one point. There is no disagreement
on the ultimate objective: that is a fully elected
legislature for the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region. Discussion is focussing on how to get there and
how fast.
Closely related to this debate is the question of
democratic reform before 1997. This is an evolutionary
process which began in Hong Kong long before the Joint
Declaration was signed. Thus we are now considering what
further changes should be made to the membership of our
Legislative Council in 1991. The hope is of course that
these changes will both meet the wishes of people in Hong
Kong and provide a smooth transition through 1997.