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WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1993
THE STAND OF THE ADMINISTRATION IS CLEAR. IF AND WHEN AN UNDERSTANDING IS REACHED WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, WE WILL SHARE IT WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND JUSTIFY IT TO THIS COUNCIL. AND I AM MOST GRATEFUL TO MR ANDREW WONG FOR EXPLAINING AND DEFINING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONFIDENTIALITY AND SECRECY. I CAN ASSURE MEMBERS THAT THERE WILL BE NO SECRET DEALS. NOR, INDEED, CAN THERE BE ANY. ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR 1994/95 WILL REQUIRE LEGISLATION, AND IT WILL BE FOR THIS COUNCIL TO EITHER PASS, AMEND OR REJECT THE RELEVANT DRAFT LEGISLATION PRESENTED BEFORE IT.
THE
THE
MR PRESIDENT, FOR THE REASONS I HAVE EXPLAINED EARLIER, ADMINISTRATION BELIEVES THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE CONTENTS OF CURRENT SINO-BRITISH TALKS TO REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL. SHOULD THESE TALKS BEAR FRUITS, HOWEVER, ANY UNDERSTANDING REACHED BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES WILL. AS THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID REPEATEDLY, BE MADE PUBLIC. THE THREE EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS WILL THEREFORE VOTE AGAINST DR YEUNG SUM'S MOTION, AND SUPPORT DR TANG SIU-TONG'S AMENDED MOTION.
INTERNATIONAL TREATIES WILL CONTINUE TO APPLY TO HK
OF
THE OBJECTIVE OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS TO ENSURE THAT ALL THE MULTILATERAL AND BILATERAL TREATIES WHICH ARE OF SIGNIFICANT BENEFIT TO HONG KONG WILL CONTINUE TO APPLY TO THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION AFTER JUNE 30, 1997, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, HON JEREMY MATHEWS, SAID.
MR
THE
IN HIS REPLY DURING QUESTION TIME IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. MATHEWS SAID THERE WERE AT PRESENT OVER 200 MULTILATERAL TREATIES AND ABOUT 180 BILATERAL TREATIES WHICH HAD BEEN EXTENDED TO HONG KONG BY THE UNITED KINGDOM.
SUB-
"IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANNEX II OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, A GROUP ON INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED UNDER THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP TO CONSIDER THE NECESSARY ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS TO ENSURE THE CONTINURD APPLICATION OF EXISTING INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS AFFECTING HONG KONG," HE SAID.
THE
HE POINTED OUT THAT AGREEMENT HAD ALREADY BEEN REACHED BETWEEN TWO SIDES ON THE CONTINUED APPLICATION OF ABOUT HALF OF THE MULTILATERAL TREATIES AND THAT CONSIDERATION IN THE SUB-GROUP OF MOST OF THE OTHERS WAS TAKING PLACE.
"AS REGARDS THE BILATERAL TREATIES, THESE WILL LAPSE IN RESPECT OF HONG KONG AFTER JUNE 30, 1997.
/"DISCUSSION IS