The Hong Kong Government are pressing ahead with a number of important new infrastructure projects, including plans to build a new international airport. The new airport and the road and rail links associated with it will be the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken in Hong Kong. Expected to cost some f10 billion over next 15 years.
- A Bill of Rights for Hong Kong was introduced to the
Legislative Council on 25 June. It is expected to receive its second reading in mid-February and to become law shortly thereafter. It will give clear effect in a single local law to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as applied to Hong Kong and make it justiciable in Hong Kong courts. The Chinese have expressed unease about the Bill. Since the Basic Law and Joint Declaration provide for the continued application of the Covenant after 1997 and we have ensured the Bill of Rights is compatible with the Basic Law, we can see no reason why they should have difficulty and have been engaged in discussions to try to allay their concerns.
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We have made it clear to the Chinese Government that it is above all for them to demonstrate through their actions their commitment to the Joint Declaration and to the concept of "one country, two systems", and thereby to begin to regain the trust of the people of Hong Kong.
BASIC LAW
- The Basic Law was promulgated on 4 April by China's
National People's Congress after extensive consultation with the Hong Kong people over nearly 5 years. Landmark in laying foundation for Hong Kong's future status as Special Administrative Region of the PRC.
We had detailed confidential exchanges with the Chinese authorities during the course of the drafting process. a result changes were made to many provisions.
Our main concern was to ensure consistency between the Basic Law and the provisions of the Joint Declaration. the whole we are satisfied that this has been achieved, although there are inevitably some provisions which we would have preferred to have seen drafted differently.
DEMOCRACY
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- Our aim throughout has been to establish in Hong Kong before 1997 a system of government which includes a substantial element of democracy and which can endure and further develop after 1997.
TOYADC