TNAG-1295-FCO40-1650-Visits-by-members-of-the-Office-of-the-Unofficial-Members-of-1984 — Page 134

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of the NPC would not, therefore, be

violated by this proposal. In addition, to give confidence even further that

there would be no changes in the 50

years after 1997, it should be

stipulated in the Basic Law that,

following the precedent of Macau's Basic

Law under Portugal, any future

amendments to the Basic Law can only be

initiated by Hong Kong.

Perhaps, we can best illustrate the

worry of the Hong Kong people by an

analogy. A small town is about to be

resettled in a place where flooding has

occurred about once every ten years in

the last thirty years. In order to give

confidence to the people being resettled

there that their livelihood would not be

threatened by flooding in the new place

of residence the residents ask that a

flood-protection dam should be built.

If the Chinese leaders understand the

anxiety of the people of Hong Kong and

would agree to the establishment of an

insulating mechanism, like a dam,

between Hong Kong and China, confidence

in Hong Kong would be greatly

increased. We, therefore, propose the

establishment of a Committee consisting

of Chinese people of international

standing and reputation. This Committee

will be appointed by the Government of

China. Their responsibility would be to

monitor or advise the drafting, and

implementation of, and subsequent

amendments, if any, to the Basic Law.