TNAG-1343-FCO40-1773-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Beijing-fo-1984 — Page 179

CONFIDENTIAL

INCOMPATIBILITY BETWEEN BASIC LAW AND CHINESE CONSTITUTION

17. Do not think concerns on this point justified. Article 31 of Chinese Constitution clearly drafted to allow exceptions for SAR from general norms of Constitution. Agreement states that socialist policies practised on mainland will not be applied in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Department

12 December 1984

CONFIDENTIAL