TNAG-1396-FCO40-1868-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Basic-Law-1985 — Page 11

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All of you got things off your chests, expressed your

ad

views, and took heed of and respect the various ideas. By doing so, you gave full play to collective wisdom by

joining forces and pooling the wisdom of the masses.

session.

All members attached great importance to this

They played an active part in the meetings and

took the floor one after another. Some members from Hong

Kong Region were so absorbed and occupied with the work

that they forgot all about food and sleep for the sake of

putting forward a proposal. Such an energetic and ardent

working attitude should be applauded. I believe that with

such a working spirit and such concerted efforts of all the

members, we will definitely be able to accomplish the glorious

task of drafting the Basic Law.

In

During this session, we basically agreed on the

tentative plan of the general programmes and steps of the drafting of the Basic Law. Some members suggested that in

order to maintain the confidence of the Hong Kong compatriots

and the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong, and to have a

smooth transference of the political power in future, it was

hoped that the discussion papers of the draft Basic Law or the

draft itself would be published earlier. Such a feeling is fully

understandable. The drafting of the Basic Law is to put down

the policies derived from the "one country, two systems" concept by provisions of the law. It is a creative task unprecedented

which requires in-depth investigation and study and wide

consultation of the view of all quarters. The draft of the

Basic Law must undergo serious and repeated discussions and

amendments to make it more comprehensive and complete.

Therefore, the task could not be accomplished in less than four to five years. Certainly, we have to work hard to

strive for an early accomplishment.

In the course of discussion, all of the members had

put forward many useful ideas and suggestions on the working

/method of