TNAG-1321-FCO40-1727-Future-of-Hong-Kong-opinion-polls-and-surveys-1984 — Page 59

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MKK040b25

CONFIDENTIAL

IN REGIS Pk? 11 JUN 1984

DESK OFFICEN

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 09034OZ JUN 84

INDEX

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1567 OF 9 JUNE

PA

TOP COPY

Action Takan

RAB 4/6 C2116

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON, PEKING

FOR CLIFT, HKD

OUR TELNO 1479: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: PUBLIC OPINION

1. THE PAST FORTNIGHT HAS SEEN ONLY ONE PUBLIC DOCUMENT OF THE KIND MENTIONED IN PARAGRAPH 1 OF YOUR LETTER TO MCLAREN OF 18 MAY. THIS WAS A PAPER PRESENTED BY THE HONG KONG AFFAIRS SOCIETY (A RECENTLY-ESTABLISHED GROUP OF YOUNG PROFESSIONALS CONCERNED WITH THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG) TO A SYMPOSIUM ON HONG KONG'S LEGAL SYSTEM AFTER 1997. (OUR TELNO 1493, PARAGRAPH 2).

+Kicon0/3 (188

2. THE PAPER (COPY FOLLOWS BY BAG) ARGUED THAT A WRITTEN CONSTITUTION, OR BASIC LAW, SHOULD FORM THE BASIS OF LEGITIMACY OF THE FUTURE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. IN SUMMARY THE BASIC LAW

WHOULD:

(A) REFLECT THE SPIRIT OF THE SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT ON HONG KONG'S FUTURE, PUBLIC UNDERTAKINGS BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, AND THE WISHES OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG FOR A BASICALLY LIBERAL, DEMOCRATIC AND RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT:

(B) CLEARLY DEFINE THE RESPECTIVE POWERS OF HONG KONG AND THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT (THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT MUST RESERVE POWERS

ON ''POLITICS-RELATED FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE, AND THE CONSTITUTION

OF THE SAR': WHILE INTERNAL SECURITY SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, WHICH SHOULD MAINTAIN ITS EXISTING INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS):

(C) INCLUDE A CHAPTER ON THE ''DIRECTIVE PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL

POLICY'' AND A DECLARATION OF BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS:

(D) PROVIDE FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THE PRESENT JUDICIAL AND LEGAL SYSTEM, AND UPHOLD JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE AND THE PROTECTION

OF THE TENURE OF JUDGES:

(E) BE DRAFTED BY A CONSULTATIVE COMMISSION IN HONG KONG WITH AN

ELECTIVE ELEMENT, SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY THE PUBLIC AND

BY 1996 SHOULD BE PASSED BY A REFERENDUM OF HONG KONG PEOPLE

SUBJECT TO ANY AMENDMENT WHICH THEY WISHED TO MAKE WITH THE

CONSENT OF THE N.P.C.

CONFIDENTIAL

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