4
1
the Chinese authorities have some concern about the Bill
and we have had many
contacts with the Chinese side
I cannot
through a number of channels, including discussions in the
Joint Liaison Group and on
on informal occasions. Both the
White Bill and the Bill now before Members have been given
to the Chinese side and explained to them.
emphasise enough that one of our overriding principles in
enacting this piece of legislation has been and will be to
ensure that the final product fulfils our obligations
under the Joint Declaration and that it will last beyond
We can see no better way than to enact a
comprehensive Bill of Rights.
1997.
6.
The proposed freeze period is an area of major
interest to the public. The majority of written
submissions and DB members who expressed a view on
on this
issue are opposed to a two-year freeze period. Some have
suggested that there should be no freeze period at all.
The LegCo Ad Hoc Group has recommended that there should
be a selective freeze for one year achieved by listing in
a schedule the ordinances likely to be
be affected by the
Bill of Rights, and that the freeze can be extended, upon
the approval of this Council for another year.
7.
The
freeze
is
necessary
to avoid
the
effects of
legislative and
operational
destabilising
vacuums which may occur if statutory laws are found to be