TNAG-1283-FCO40-1635-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 76

SECRET

18908

-

1

DD 10010OZ HONG KONG

GRS 1099

SECRET

DESKBY 100100Z

FM FCO 091820Z FEB 84

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 245 OF 9 FEBRUARY

AND TO IMMEDIATE PEKING

MIPT: FUTURE OF HONG KONG:

HKK

01113

STAY

13 FED 1961

SORR

ль

No I Pu

KEB

WORKING PAPER ON CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

STRUCTURES

THE CHINESE PLAN

1. THE HONG KONG SAR, DIRECTLY UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE

CENTRAL GOVERNMENT, WOULD BE ESTABLISHED IN ACCORDANCE WITH

ARTICLE 31 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.

2.

THE BASIC SYSTEMS OF THE HONG KONG SAR WOULD BE PRESCRIBED BY

THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS IN THE BASIC LAW FOR THE HONG KONG

SAR WHICH WOULD REMAIN UNCHANGED FOR A PERIOD OF AT LEAST 50

YEARS. THE BASIC LAW WOULD BE DRAFTED AND ENACTED BY THE

NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS. IT WOULD DEAL WITH SUCH MATTERS AS

THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEMS IN THE SAR, THE RELATIONSHIP

BETWEEN THE CENTRAL AUTHORITIES AND THE SAR, THE POWERS OF AND RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATURE AND JUDICIARY OF

THE SAR AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF ITS CITIZENS.

3. THE HONG KONG SAR WOULD ENJOY A HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY. THE LAWS, DECREES AND REGULATIONS CURRENTLY IN FORCE WOULD REMAIN BASICALLY UNCHANGED. THE SAR GOVERNMENT COULD MAKE ITS OWN LAWS

WHICH IT WOULD REPORT TO THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL

PEOPLE'S CONGRESS FOR THE RECORD. THE CENTRAL PEOPLE'S

GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT INTERVENE SO LONG AS THE SAR MADE LAWS

WITHIN THE SPHERE AND LIMITS OF ITS AUTHORITY AS PRESCRIBED BY

THE BASIC LAW AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LEGAL PROCEDURES.

4. THE GOVERNMENT OF THE HONG KONG SAR WOULD BE COMPOSED OF

LOCAL INHABITANTS. THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICIAL OF THE SAR WOULD

BE ELECTED THROUGH CONSULTATIONS OR ELECTIONS HELD LOCALLY AND

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47

See (48)

See (59)