TNAG-1311-FCO40-1673-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 35

SWB

FE/7818/A3/6

5 Dec 84

Of

which were in force before the initialling of the "joint declaration," rather than those, laws (including new laws in the transitional period) in force before the "joint declaration becomes effective.

(ii) The Hongkong special administrative region legislature should enact its laws in accordance with the basic law. They should not conflict with it. The laws should be enacted in accordance with legal procedure. Otherwise they are invalid. After the enactment of the laws, they should be submitted to the NPC Standing Committee for the record.

With regard to the administrative power of the special administrative region, the "joint delcaration" says: "The government of the Hongkong special administrative region will be composed of local inhabitants. The chief executive will be elected locally or nominated through consultation." This means that the central authorities will not send officials to Hongkong. However, the chief executive of Hongkong should be "appointed by the central people's government", and "principle officials will be nominated by the chief executive of the Hongkong special administrative region for appointment by the central people's government". All this shows that the Hongkong special administrative region is led by the central people's government. It is a local government which will enjoy a high degree of autonomy, and is different from other local governments in general. However, Hongkong is not an independent state.

South Korean Unification Minister Discusses Relations with North

Seoul ‘Tong-a Ilbo’ 4 Dec 84

Text of report:

Despite the postponement of the second round of North-South economic talks in the wake of the shooting incident at Panmunjom caused by the defection of a Soviet, the government expects rapid progress to be made in economic, Red Cross, sports and cultural talks next year and on the question of reconnecting the Seoul-Sinuiju railway and opening ports in the North and the South which were discussed at the first round of economic talks to be settled without great difficulty.

In his 4th December interview with 'Tong-a Ilbo', Unification Minister Son Chae- sik disclosed this and said: "I think that, in view of relations between North and South Korea, their internal situations and changes in international relations, a significant turning point will be provided for an approach towards unification within this century - from the late 1980s to the late 1990s.

Revealing that relations between North and South Korea are "relations between two substantive political entities within one nation", "there exists a de facto regime in authority in North Korea" as a counterpart in dialogue for unification, and the government "understands its existence", Minister Son made the analysis that the inheritance of power by Kim Chong-il was likely to be completed in North Korea in a few years and that, if his inheritance was realised, North Korea would maintain its existing policy for a time, not changing its basic policy.

This is the first time that a Cabinet Minister has admitted that the North Korean political regime "exists" and the government "understands its existence".

Referring to the questions of reconnecting the Seoul-Sinuiju railway and opening ports which were raised at the first round of North-South economic talks in November, Minister Son said: "Because six of the trade items proposed by the two sides were agreed upon and the scope of trade items will be expanded in the course of negotiations, it is essentially possible to reconnect the railway and open ports, that is unless the opinions stated by the two sides are false."

In connection with the postponement of the second round of economic talks, scheduled for 5th December, in the wake of the shooting incident caused by the