RESTRICTED
416
MDLIAN 2623
A NUMBER OF BILLS FOR ENACTMENT BY THIS COUNCIL IN THE NEXT 3 YEARS
TO TAKE EFFECT FROM 1 JULY 1997.
C) THE BASIC LAW DOES NOT ENTER INTO FORCE UNTIL 1 JULY 1997. UNDER ITS PROVISIONS, THE BASIC LAW WILL BE INTERPRETED BY THE COURTS OF THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION, OR IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES BY THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL
PEOPLE'S CONGRESS. IN PREPARING THE REQUIRED. ADAPTATIONS OF OUR LAWS TO ACHIEVE CONSISTENCY WITH THE BASIC LAW, WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO TAKE A VIEW ON THE MEANING OF CERTAIN OF ITS PROVISIONS. TO ENSURE THAT OUR VIEW COINCIDES WITH THAT OF THE CHINESE SIDE WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN TO CONSULT THEM. CLEARLY, IF AGREEMENT CAN BE REACHED WITH THE CHINESE SIDE ON THE ADAPTATION OF HONG KONG'S LAWS FOR COMPATIBILITY WITH THE BASIC LAW, THAT WOULD BE THE BEST MEANS OF ENSURING THAT NONE OF OUR LAWS WILL BE DECLARED TO BE IN CONTRAVENTION WITH THE BASIC LAW BY THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE NPC UNDER ARTICLE 160 OF THE BASIC LAW.
3.
THE REPLY HAS BEEN CLEARED WITH UKREP JLG.
4. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WILL DEAL WITH ANY SUPPLEMENTARIES AS APPROPRIATE.
PATTEN
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
43
.JLG RESTRICTED
HKD
FED
LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT
LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BROOKS
ADDITIONAL
.JLG RESTRICTED CAOFF//MR ABBOT
Natal
DISTRIBUTION
47
NEWS D
PUSD
RAD
MR HUM
CAOFF//MS D CORNER CAOFF MR SIBSON
PAGE
2
RESTRICTED