XN000022-1985-09-30 — Page 7

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1985

THE OTHER 32 MEMBERS OF LEGCO - ABOUT ONE THIRD OF WHOM WILL BE OFFICIALS - WILL BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.

THIS INTRODUCTION OF A SUBSTANTIAL ELECTED ELEMENT INTO THE COUNCIL IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD IN CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. ITS SUCCESS WILL BE ASSESSED IN A REVIEW TO BE UNDERTAKEN IN 1987.

BASIC LAW

THE J.D. STATES THAT THE PROVISIONS SET OUT IN THE DECLARATION WILL BE +STIPULATED IN A BASIC LAW+ TO BE DRAWN UP BY THE NPC OF THE PRC FOR THE HONG KONG SAR,

THE NPC HAS INDEED MADE GOOD PROGRESS ON THIS, AND OF ALL MATTERS CONCERNING HONG KONG THE BASIC LAW HAS BEEN TOP OF THE INTEREST LIST FOR THE PAST YEAR OR SO.

AT THE LAST MEETING OF THE NPC IN PEKING IN JULY, A BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE (BLDC) WAS APPOINTED. THE HONG KONG MEMBERSHIP IS 25, COMPRISING A WIDE RANGING AND REPRESENTATIVE GROUP. THEY HAVE BEEN TASKED WITH DRAFTING A BASIC LAW. THAT IS A CONSTITUTION FOR HK, WITHIN FIVE YEARS. AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN DRAGGING THEIR FEET. IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS MUCH DISCUSSION HAS TAKEN PLACE IN HONG KONG ABOUT ESTABLISHING A BASIC LAW CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE (BLCC) THE ROLE OF WHICH WILL BE TO COLLECT, COLLATE AND REFLECT VIEWS EXPRESSED BY HK PEOPLE ON THE B.L. A WORKING GROUP, CHAIRED BY A SENIOR HK JUDGE. HAS NOW DRAWN UP A CONSTITUTION FOR THE BLCC WHICH HAS BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE BLDC. AT PRESENT

A SECOND WORKING GROUP IS DECIDING HOW THE 150-200 MEMBERS OF THE BLCC ARE TO BE SELECTED AND APPOINTED.

THESE FOUR ELEMENTS THE JLG, THE L.C., CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE B.L. ARE THE CURRENT PALPABLE ELEMENTS OF LIFE IN HK ARISING FROM THE J.D.

THE FUTURE

BUT THE FUTURE OF HK CANNOT BE ASSURED BY THE AGREEMENT ALONE, HONG KONG'S TRANSITION FROM A BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORY TO AN SAR OF THE PRC WILL REQUIRE A SUSTAINED EFFORT ENTAILING A BALANCE OF DETERMINATION AND RESTRAINT ON THE PART OF ALL PARTIES CONCERNED IN THE PROCESS.

BRITAIN'S ROLE