THURSDAY, JULY 14, 1988
THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION PROVIDES THAT THE BASIC LAW OF THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION SHALL STIPULATE CHINA'S BASIC POLICIES REGARDING HONG KONG AS SET OUT IN THE JOINT DECLARATION AND ELABORATED IN ITS ANNEX I, RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DRAFTING AND THE PROMULGATION OF THE BASIC LAW OF COURSE RESTS WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. BUT AS THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAID IN PARLIAMENT ON JANUARY 20 THIS
YEAR, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, AS A CO-SIGNATORY TO THE JOINT DECLARATION, HAVE THE RIGHT TO SATISFY THEMSELVES THAT THE EVENTUAL PROVISIONS OF THE BASIC LAW FULLY AND ACCURATELY REFLECT THE JOINT DECLARATION. TO THIS END, WE SHALL PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE VIEWS EXPRESSED, BOTH LOCALLY AND OVERSEAS, ON THE DRAFT BASIC LAW, AND TAKE THEM INTO ACCOUNT IN OUR FUTURE EXCHANGES WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES.
IN THIS DEBATE, MEMBERS HAVE SPOKEN ON A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES RELATING TO THE DRAFT BASIC LAW, E.G. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BASIC LAW FULLY REFLECTING THE "ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS" CONCEPT; THE HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY PROMISED TO THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION BY THE JOINT DECLARATION, A FIRM GUARANTEE IN THE BASIC LAW OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY; AND THE PROTECTION OF BASIC RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS, THE NEED FOR THE BASIC LAW ΤΟ GIVE THE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION GOVERNMENT THE NECESSARY FLEXIBILITY TO RESPOND TO CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES. THESE ARE SOME OF THE MORE IMPORTANT POINTS OVER WHICH MEMBERS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN. I HAVE TAKEN CAREFUL NOTE OF THEM. 1F MEMBERS SO WISH, WE SHALL. FORWARD THESE VIEWS ΤΟ THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES.
AND
THE DRAFTING OF THE BASIC LAW HAS BEEN A VERY OPEN PROCESS THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAVE MADE GREAT EFFORTS ΤΟ INVOLVE THE HONG KONG PEOPLE. OPPORTUNITIES HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE IN THE CONSULTATION EXERCISE NOW UNDERWAY FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC ΤΟ COMMENT ON THE DRAFT AND TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS THROUGH A VARIETY OF CHANNELS. CHINESE OFFICIALS HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS FIRST DRAFT IS FAR FROM PERFECT AND WILL REQUIRE IMPROVEMENT TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE COMMENTS MADE ON IT AND TO MEET HONG KONG CIRCUMSTANCES. IN THIS SPIRIT, THEY HAVE SAID THEY WILL TAKE ACCOUNT OF VIEWS EXPRESSED IN REVISING THE PRESENT DRAFT. IT IS THEREFORE VITAL ᎢᎻᎪᎢ . IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WORDING OF THE MOTION BEFORE MEMBERS, THE HONG KONG PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY PRESENTED BY THE CONSULTATION EXERCISE TO MAKE KNOWN THEIR VIEWS ON THE DRAFT AS IT NOW STANDS.
I HAVE NOTED OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS, AND INDEED IN RECENT WEEKS, THAT ON SOME ASPECTS OF THE BASIC LAW, THERE IS A CLEAR CONSENSUS OF VIEW WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. IN OTHER AREAS, THERE ARE STILL DIVERGENT VIEWS. I HOPE THAT ALL CONCERNED WILL COME TOGETHER TO DISCUSS OUTSTANDING ISSUES IN A FLEXIBLE AND POSITIVE WAY IN ORDER TO FIND THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF COMMON GROUND. FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE COMMUNITY, AND I AM SURE FROM THE BASIC LAW DRAFTERS' POINT OF VIEW AS WELL, A MEASURE OF CONSENSUS WILL HELP ENSURE THAT THE BASIC LAW IN ITS FINAL FORM WILL BE A WIDELY ACCEPTABLE, AND WORKABLE, DOCUMENT.
SIR, WITH THESE REMARKS, I SUPPORT THE MOTION.
THE MOTION WAS PASSED BY THE COUNCIL.
EFFECTIVELY
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