XN000022-1993-10-25 — Page 5

MONDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1993

"THE AIM WILL BE FOR BILLS TO BE ENACTED COME INTO FORCE ONLY ON 1 JULY 1997.

JLG.

BEFORE 1997 BUT TO

"THIS PROGRAMME HAS BEEN EXPLAINED TO THE CHINESE SIDE IN THE

"MUCH OF THE WORK IS ROUTINE, FOR EXAMPLE, ADAPTING TERMINOLOGY SUCH AS 'THE GOVERNOR'.

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BUT THERE ARE MORE COMPLEX MATTERS SUCH AS RELATING то CROWN LAND, CROWN PROCEEDINGS, NATIONALITY AND RIGHT OF ABODE WHICH WILL REQUIRE CAREFUL CONSIDERATION BEFORE THEY ARE ADAPTED, HE SAID.

TURNING TO THE WORK OF THE JLG SUB-GROUP ON INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS, MR HANRATTY SAID SO FAR THE TWO SIDES HAD REACHED AGREEMENT, IN PRINCIPLE, ON THE CONTINUED APPLICATION OF ABOUT HALF THE SOME 200 MULTI-LATERAL TREATIES CONCERNED.

THESE INCLUDED 29 AGREEMENTS ESTABLISHING INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS IN WHICH HONG KONG PARTICIPATES, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK, THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC (ESCAP) AND THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION.

THERE ARE STILL ABOUT 100 TREATIES LEFT FOR DISCUSSION.

HE EMPHASISED THAT THE JOINT DECLARATION WAS

AN INTERNATIONAL

TREATY.

UNDER IT AND REPEATED IN ARTICLE 8 OF THE BASIC LAW STATES:

LAW, RULES OF EQUITY, ORDINANCES, SUBORDINATE LEGISLATION AND

THE

"THE LAWS PREVIOUSLY IN FORCE IN HONG KONG THAT IS, THE COMMON

CUSTOMARY LAW SHALL BE MAINTAINED, EXCEPT FOR ANY THAT CONTRAVENE BASIC LAW AND SUBJECT TO ANY AMENDMENT BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION (HKSAR).

HONG

"SO, OF COURSE, IT WILL BE OPEN TO LEGCO TO ALTER THOSE LAWS PROVIDED THAT THEY DO NOT CONTRAVENE THE BASIC LAW.

"THIS IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT LEGCO CONTINUES TO BE

REPRESENTATIVE OF THE WIDE COMMUNITY OF HONG KONG," MR HANRATTY SAID.

THE PEOPLE'S AFTER 1997,

UNDER ANNEX III OF THE BASIC LAW, LAWS OF REPUBLIC OF CHINA (PRC), WHICH WILL APPLY TO HONG KONG ARE LIMITED TO A FEW DISTINCT CATEGORIES ONLY REFLECTING THE CHANGE OF SOVEREIGNTY AFTER 1997, FOR EXAMPLE, RESOLUTIONS ON THE FLAG LAWS ON THE TERRITORIAL SEA AND REGULATIONS ON PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES FOR DIPLOMATS.

MR HANRATTY SAID THAT AFTER 1997 HE LOOKED FORWARD то ONE COUNTRY TWO SYSTEMS WORKING WELL IN PRACTICE WITH A LOCAL LEGISLATURE RESPONDING TO HONG KONG'S NEEDS AND AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY AND LEGAL PROFESSION SAFEGUARDING THE LEGITIMATE INTERESTS OF COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS.

H

SO

IN THIS WAY HONG KONG WILL CONTINUE TO ATTRACT BUSINESS, FOREIGN INVESTMENT AND PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD THAT THIS SPECTACULAR AND BRILLIANTLY SUCCESSFUL CITY WILL CONTINUE TO PROSPER WELL INTO THE NEXT CENTURY," HE SAID.

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