CONFIDENTIAL
successors will be selected after China resumes the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, with a totally different historical background. The Basic Law (draft) stipulates that the composition of the Election Committee for selecting the second and third CES shall be prescribed by the electoral law of the SAR. But when the first CE is to be selected, such an electoral law cannot possibly be formulated as the SAR is yet to be established. Besides, it will be impossible to apply the electoral law of the SAR in Hong Kong which is under British rule.
4.
The British side suggests that the British Hong Kong Government would ensure, so far as possible, that the candidates identified by the two sides for principal official posts, recommended by the CE (designate) to the Central People's Government and subject to the latter's acceptance, would occupy equivalent posts before 1 July 1997 and should remain in post thereafter. The British side also envisages that the Governor of Hong Kong would so far as possible appoint candidates of the Executive Council of the SAR to the Hong Kong Executive Council before 1 July 1997, after the CE (designate) informed the Central People's Government of the proposed appointment. The Chinese side believes that the British side has made suggestions and ideas consideration for facilitating a smooth transition. However, in view of the fact that the first CE, principal officials and members of the SAR Executive Council will not be designated until
until shortly before 1997, it would not be of much significance, when the. time comes, for the British Hong Kong Government to place them on equivalent posts to enable them to gain on-the-job experience. It would be more appropriate for them to get to know their future duties as designate principal officials and members of the Executive Council.
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The Chinese side believes that arrangements that meet the requirements of the two sides will surely be found so long as the two sides continue to work in the spirit of consistent, friendly cooperation.
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CONFIDENTIAL