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5a). In HKG's Article 3, paragraph 1 there is set out a new Article VII, paragraph 2 of the principal Letters Patent. believe it is important to keep the words in the existing paragraph 2 which provide that the laws of the Colony may provide for the election of members of Legco. The HKG draft does not retain this point. I suggest instead keeping the
present paragraph 2 and amending it. I have suggested five small amendments to the existing Article VII, paragraph 2.
b). In HKG's Article 3, paragraph 1(b) it is proposed that two new paragraphs, paragraphs (4) and (5) should be added to the existing Article VII; they would follow paragraph (3) on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. I think it is right however that the paragraph on the Covenant should follow the two new paragraphs and I have revised the draft Letters Patent accordingly.
c). In HKG's Article 3, paragraph 1(b), setting out the proposed new Article VII, paragraph (5), I consider "The law" should read "Laws".
6. Finally, in the Reservations provision, I have noted that past practice does not reserve the right to "alter" these Letters Patent but only to "amend or revoke" them; yet Letters Patent XX refers to the power reserved to Her Majesty to "revoke, alter or amend the Letters Patent". I do not consider "alter" adds anything to the concept of amend, and it may now be inappropriate to add the word "alter" to these draft Letters Patent given other past Letters Patent have not used this word in the Reservations provision.
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Shelagh Brooks,
Shelagh Brooks