TNAG-1243-FCO40-1557-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 66

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CHINESE CONCEPT OF A "MINI-CONSTITUTION" FOR HONG KONG

1. In the light of Mr Clift's note on Hong Kong telno 1853 (attached), I have tried to piece together what we have so far seen about this concept. It is one that has been canvassed most widely on the Chinese side by Ji Peng Fei, though others (eg Liao Chengzhi to a delegation of Hong Kong intellectuals in May and Xu Jiatun to journalists on 3 December) have also referred to it) Not surprisingly, the Hong Kong press has shown considerable interest.

are obvious dangers in placing too much reliance solely on press reports which is mainly what we have.

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2. Most of the references available to us about the "Mini-Constitution" would lead us to assume that it is synonymous the "Basic Law" of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region to be appended to Article 31 of the Chinese Constitution. This is certainly the impression that Liao Chengzhi is reported to have given Hong Kong

intellectuals (Ching Pao, 10 May) and recently reported to have been given currency by Ji Peng Fei. This "Law" (or "Laws", or "Mini-Constitution") seems designed to enshrine a number of assurances for Hong Kong's future. Viz:

(a) Hong Kong's systems to be basically unchanged for 50 years after 1997;

(b) no cadres to be sent from Peking to Hong Kong; no interference in Hong Kong's internal affairs;

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(c) under the broad principle of "Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong" there would be freedoms of speach, publication, assembly, the rights or form societies" and to leave and enter Hong Kong. (Ji Pengfei to New Territories District Board members, 15 November, elaborating on points reported to have been provisionally made by him to Denny Hang on 27 September).

Other points about the "Mini-Constitution" are that:

(i) Hong Kong people are to be consulted on "these Laws" before they are submitted to the National People's Congress;

(Ta Kung Pao and Wen Wei Po, 16 November, quoting Ji to District Board Members)

(ii) Concerning (i) above, the Chinese deadline of September 1984 for a unilateral statement on Hong Kong does

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