CONFIDENTIAL
2272
1) NO POSSIBILITY OF AN AMENDED AGREEMENT. ARRANGEMENTS
PROPOSED FOR HONG KONG'S FUTURE ARE OUTCOME OF A COMPLEX PROCESS
OF NEGOTIATION. THIS HAS RESULTED IN BALANCED, COMPREHENSIVE
AGREEMENT PROVIDING FRAMEWORK FOR HONG KONG'S CONTINUING
STABILITY AND PROSPERITY. AGREEMENT MUST BE SEEN AS A WHOLE.
BUT VIEWS EXPRESSED IN HONG KONG ON ALL PARTS OF IT WILL BE OF
VALUE IN OUR CONTINUING DISCUSSIONS WITH CHINESE, PARTICULARLY IN
JOINT LIAISON GROUP.
VIEW OF PEOPLE OF HONG KONG
2) REPORT OF ASSESSMENT OFFICE ESTABLISHED TO COLLATE AND ASSESS
VIEWS OF PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WAS LAID BEFORE THE HOUSE AND
PUBLISHED ON 29 NOVEMBER.
CONCLUDES, AFTER CAREFUL ANALYSIS OF ALL THE INFORMATION IT
RECEIVED FROM WIDE RANGE OF OPINION IN THE TERRITORY THAT MOST OF
THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG CONSIDER THE DRAFT AGREEMENT TO BE
ACCEPTABLE.
SIGNIFICANCE OF AGREEMENT FOR SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS
3) BELIEVE THAT SUCCESFUL CONCLUSION OF HONG KONG NEGOTATIONS
PROVIDES FIRM BASIS ON WHICH OUR GOOD RELATIONS WITH CHINA CAN BE
MAINTAINED AND FURTHER DEVELOPED.
ABSTENTIONS IN HONG KONG'S LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (LEGCO) DEBATE ON
AGREEMENT
4)
LEGCO DEBATED DRAFT AGREEMENT ON 15 AND 16 OCTOBER. ONLY
TWO OF THE 27 UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WHO SPOKE FELT UNABLE TO COMMEND
LEGCO OPINION THUS OVERWHELMINGLY IN FAVOUR.
IT.
HONG KONG BAR ASSOCIATION OBJECTIONS TO AGREEMENT?
5) MEETING OF ASSOCIATION IN NOVEMBER ATTENDED BY ONLY 50
OF ITS 250 MEMBERS. A KEY CONCERN APPEARED TO BE SEEMING
CONFLICT BETWEEN ARTICLES 1 AND 31 OF CHINESE CONSTITUTION.
FORMER PROVIDES FOR PRACTICE OF SOCIALISM IN PRC. LATTER
PROVIDES FOR ESTABLISHMENT WITHIN PRC OF SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE
REGIONS WITH SYSTEMS TO BE PRESCRIBED BY LAWS ENACTED BY THE
NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS (NPC). DRAFT AGREEMENT ON HONG KONG
MAKES CLEAR THAT BASIC LAW PASSED BY NPC WILL STIPULATE CHINESE
POLICIES FOR FUTURE SAR SPELT OUT IN JOINT DECLARATION AND ANNEX
STIPULATES IN PARTICULAR THAT SOCIALIST SYSTEM AND POLICIES
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CONFIDENTIAL
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