CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS THROUGH TRAIN
·B1.
Lu said that the through train was not
"unconditional". The first condition was that the
formation of the "last LegCo" should conform with the
Decision [of the NPC] and the Basic Law; the second was
that LegCo members should adhere to the Basic Law and comply with the stipulations of the Basic Law; the third condition was that they should be confirmed by the
Preparatory Committee. Without convergence it would be necessary to "set up a new kitchen" (TKP 4 Jan 1993).
B2.
South China Morning Post (10 May 1993) quoted a
spokesman of the National People's Congress, Zhou Chengkui, as saying that the NPC Standing Committee may need to draw
up guidelines on the through train arrangements to remove any confusion over who can qualify. Zhou reportedly said that it was possible that the committee could spell out some definitions and that it had the power to provide a "legislative explanation" to define provisions in the Basic Law and the NPC Decision (on the formation of the first
government and first LegCo of the Hong Kong SAR]. (Zhou Chengkui's remarks were not carried by any of the
pro-Peking papers in Hong Kong).
B3.
Asked whether the talks would cover the subject of
the through train, Lu Ping said the Basic Law had made
clear provisions about this; there was nothing to talk
about.
The NPC's decision on the first SAR government and
legislature, having been passed by the NPC, was legally
binding; not even a word could be changed (HK press 20 May
1993).
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