Declaration and on the smooth transfer of government.
Much
has been done in this Group to provide for the continued application for the benefit of the SAR of international arrangements which presently affect Hong Kong, and in respect of the localisation of "imperial" laws. It is, however, apparent from the communiques of the Joint Liaison Group that its output has fallen off since the interruption of its meetings as a consequence of Tianamen Square and there is much still to do. It remains to be seen what attitude the Chinese will adopt as regards the final transitional measures which are necessary for a continuance of administration; but if appropriate measures are not enacted and practical steps are not taken in advance of the 1 July 1997 there could be a gap in the administrative and legal regime in Hong Kong which, at the least, could be productive of much inconvenience and could well result in disorder and a loss of rights.
54. There is one other issue which is connected with the transition from the present Administration of Hong Kong to the establishment of the SAR and which is exacerbated by the unduly long transition period. This is the question of decision-taking in respect of matters which bridge, or which fall to be completed after, 1997, or which the present Administration wish to introduce in the hope or expectation
that they will survive 1997. It is clear[75] that there
has been a lack of accord between the Hong Kong Administration and Chinese officials as to the adequacy of consultation and co-operation over such practical issues as the building of a new airport involving very great sums of money and not due to be completed until after 1997 and over the introduction of human rights legislation which is closely connected with the fundamental rights Chapter of the Basic Law and which the present Administration sees as a necessary adjunct to it. The need for such consultation and co-operation between a predecessor regime and a successor regime is self evident if it relates to a matter
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