Attorney General
CONFIDENTIAL
via, Mr. Anthony Duckett, SG
In Archetts 14 falled tome by David
НКС 370/7.
RECEIVED
MB
CISTRY
REGISTRY
Ag.) .3 APR 1993
DESK O INDEX
PA Action
(4
pocalitat
Adaptati
Re: HK SAR Basic Law article 160 (paragraph one)
of Laws,
As you know, a meeting was arranged with Mr. Anthony Neoh QC after he had informally told us that the Hong Kong NCNA have asked him to assist in the possible creation of a special
committee of Hong Kong lawyers to advise the Standing Committee
of the National People's Congress on paragraph one of Article 160
of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong SAR. The purpose of this
meeting, which took place yesterday evening (Wednesday March 18, 1993), was to brief Anthony in very general terms about the 'adaptation of laws' work that is being carried out by the AGC.
The meeting was chaired by Mr. David Edwards, LO(IL), with Mr.
Robert Allcock, DSG, Mr. Kenneth Yuen, APCC (IL), and myself also
present.
with the B.L.
2.
Mr. Edwards explained in broad terms the adaptation of
laws programme, emphasizing the considerable amount of work that
has been, and is being, done to ensure that in due course all
Hong Kong law is compatible with the Basic Law of the HK SAR. It
was also pointed out to Anthony that:
(a) this work is being carried out in the full
knowledge
authorities,
and with the approval
of the PRC
(b) all proposed changes to legislation will be
presented to the Chinese side in the JLG, and dealt with in
accordance with the agreed principles of consultation,
(c) one of the main objectives of this work is to
avoid the need for the Standing Committee of the NPC to
make any declaration on Hong Kong laws under the first
paragraph of Article 160 of the HKSAR BL,
(a) the Legal Department is the institution best