XN000022-1985-06-10 — Page 2

MONDAY, JUNE 10, 1985

1

HK PEOPLE'S ROLE IN BASIC LAW DRAFTING 'EXCELLENT'

*****

IT IS AN EXCELLENT THING THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN THE DRAFTING OF THE BASIC LAW, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID THIS (MONDAY) MORNING.

+THERE HAS BEEN NO OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE, BUT I HAVE SAID QUITE FIRMLY THAT! THINK IT IS AN EXCELLENT THING THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN THIS, HE SAID.

+AND INDEED, IF YOU REMEMBER WHEN THE PRIME MINISTER CAME DOWN FROM PEKING LAST DECEMBER, SHE SAID THAT SHE HAD BEEN ASSURED THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE WOULD BE DRAWN VERY FIRMLY INTO THE DRAFTING OF THE BASIC LAW.+

SIR EDWARD WAS SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING OF THE WORLD PRINT CONGRESS AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTRE.

ASKED WHETHER THERE WOULD BE ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST IF MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE OR LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS WERE APPOINTED TO THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE, THE GOVERNOR SAID HE SAW NO CONFLICT AT ALL.

+WHAT WE ARE ALL TRYING TO DO IS TO ASSURE THE BEST INTERESTS OF HONG KONG. THERE IS NO CONFLICT, IT SEEMS TO ME, AS LONG AS PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO ASSURE THE BEST INTERESTS OF HONG KONG,+ HE SAID.

ASKED WHETHER SIR S.Y. CHUNG WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE COMMITTEE, SIR EDWARD SAID, +1 AM NOT THE CONVENOR OF THE DRAFTING COMMITTEE.+

+AFTER ALL, THE DRAFTING OF THE BASIC LAW IS BASICALLY A MATTER FOR THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES. BUT LET ME REPEAT ONCE AGAIN WE ARE VERY PLEASED IF AS MANY REPRESENTATIVE PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE OF HONG KONG ARE DRAWN INTO THIS PROCESS, HE SAID.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION, SIR EDWARD SAID HE DID NOT THINK THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (POWERS AND PRIVILEGES) BILL SHOULD BE FURTHER DELAYED.

+1 THINK IT SHOULD BE FURTHER DEBATED.

+IT WILL COME UP FOR DEBATE ON WEDNESDAY. WE ARE, AFTER ALL, COMING TO THE SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER PERIOD WHEN WE SHALL HAVE A NEW-STYLE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

+AND IT IS VERY IMPORTANT, I THINK, THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE QUITE CLEAR ON WHAT THE POWERS AND PRIVILEGES OF THAT ASSEMBLY SHOULD BE.

/+THERE MAY