UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 713
OF 10075OZ MAY 93
UNCLASSIFIED
HKCC 012/2 RECEIVED IN REDISTRY
།
MAT 1993
SK CHCER
REGISTRY
PA Action Taken
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: PRESS REPORTS
THROUGH TRAIN
118
042477
MDHIAN 0303
02/2.
1. SCM POST REPORTED TODAY (10 MAY) THAT THE NPC STANDING COMMITTEE MIGHT HAVE TO DRAW UP GUIDELINES ON THE THROUGH TRAIN ARRANGEMENTS TO REMOVE ANY CONFUSION OVER WHO COULD QUALIFY. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NPC, ZHOU CHENG-KUI, WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THE STANDING COMMITTEE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE RECENT DEBATE IN HONG KONG ON THE THROUGH TRAIN. HE SAID THAT THE STANDING COMMITTEE WAS EMPOWERED TO GIVE LEGISLATIVE EXPLANATION ON PROVISIONS IN THE BASIC LAW AND THE NPC DECISION. IT WAS POSSIBLE FOR THE
STANDING COMMITTEE TO SPELL OUT SOME DEFINITIONS ON THE THROUGH TRAIN.
2. ZHOU BELIEVED THE STANDING COMMITTEE WOULD NOT CONSIDER FORMULATING THE THROUGH TRAIN CRITERIA UNTIL THE END OF THE SINO- BRITISH TALKS. HE ADDED THAT IT WAS NOT YET KNOWN WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THE TALKS WOULD BE, HENCE IT WAS A BIT EARLY TO SAY WHETHER THE STANDING COMMITTEE WOULD OFFER A SET OF GUIDELINES TO DEFINE THE CRITERIA FOR THE THROUGH TRAIN ARRANGEMENTS.
3. ACCORDING TO SCM POST, FORMER BL DRAFTER XU CHONGDE SAID THAT IT WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR THE SAR PREPARATORY COMMITTEE TO DEFINE WHO COULD RIDE THE THROUGH TRAIN. WHILE IT WAS UP TO THE NPC STANDING COMMITTEE TO DECIDE WHETHER TO OFFER A LEGISLATIVE EXPLANATION OR TO AUTHORISE THE SAR PREPARATORY COMMITTEE TO FORMULATE THE GUIDELINES ACCORDING TO PRACTICAL NEEDS, THE LATTER OPTION WAS IN HIS VIEW PREFERABLE BECAUSE THE PC'S HONG KONG MEMBERS COULD HELP STRENGTHEN CONSULTATION IN HONG KONG ON THE
THROUGH TRAIN.
4. ON THE MEANING OF UPHOLDING THE BASIC LAW, XU SAID THAT ANYBODY WHO HAD PUBLICLY DENOUNCED AND ATTACKED THE BASIC LAW AFTER ITS PROMULGATION SHOULD BE REGARDED AS NOT UPHOLDING THE BASIC LAW. LEGISLATORS WHO HAD VOTED FOR THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS SHOULD ALSO BE REGARDED AS NOT UPHOLDING THE BASIC LAW.
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PAGE UNCLASSIFIED