- 11.
(d) whether the Government will urge the British Government to request the Chinese Government to state clearly that the secretariat consisting of a few hundred staff proposed to be set up by a member of the Preliminary Working Committee (PWC) to provide assistance to the Chief Executive (Designate) will not result in the existence of a "shadow government"; and whether the Government will request the British Government to clarify if the PWC's proposal contravenes section 4 of the Sino- British Joint Declaration?
Reply:
It is not for the Hong Kong Government to define for the Chinese side what the term "Team Designate" stands for. The only occasion that this term had been explained to us was in the context of discussions on the Court of Final Appeal. On that occasion the Chinese side told us that the "Team Designate" would be led by the Chief Executive (Designate) and would include the Principal Officials (Designate) and others qualified to take part in the establishment of the Court of Final Appeal.
It is obviously in Hong Kong's interest to ensure that the transition will be as smooth as possible. It is, therefore, essential that we render assistance to the Chief Executive (Designate). In the Governor's Policy Address, we have already undertaken to do so. The details and the form of such assistance will need to be discussed with the Chinese side.
Under the Joint Declaration, the administration of Hong Kong before 1997 will remain a British responsibility. We have made it clear that we will maintain effective administration of the territory and will not accept any parallel or shadow
government.
We have noted from recent press reports that the Chinese side have affirmed their support for this principle and that there should not be an alternative centre of power before 30 June 1997.
End