TNAG-1396-FCO40-1868-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Basic-Law-1985 — Page 49

(MH) DURING 1986 AND 1987 DISCUSSION AND DRAFTING UNDER THE MAIN

HEADINGS WOULD BE CARRIED OUT. EACH MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE WOULD

DISCUSS ONE OR TWO HEADINGS. ON THIS BASIS A DISCUSSION DRAFT WOULD BE READY BY THE BEGINNING OF 1988 FOR PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION TO

PARTIES CONCERNED, AND TO ALL CIRCLES OF HONG KONG COMPATRIOTS, HN ORDER TO SOLICIT THEIR OPINION SEMICOLON

(A) IN THE COURSE OF 1988, BASED ON THESE OPINIONS, THE COMMITTEE

WOULD REWISE THE DISCUSSION DRAFT AND SUBMIT IT TO THE NPC STANDING

COMMITTEE AT THE END OF THE YEAR FOR DISCUSSION AND APPROVAL. A

DRAFT LAW WOULD THEN BE APPROVED AND THE OPHIONS OF ALL PARTIES AND

OF ALL GIRCLES IN HONG KONG SOUGHT ONCE AGAIN SEMICOLON

(MV) IN THE SECOND HALD OF 1989, THE COMMITTEE WOULD REWISE THE

DRAFT IN THE LIGHT OF THESE OPINIONS AND SUBMIT IT TO THE NFC N THE FIRST HALF OF 1990 FOR EXAMINATION AND PROMULGATION.

(V) THIS TIMETABLE WAS SUBJECT TO REVISION ACCORDING TO

CIRCUMSTANCES.

(C) WORKING METHODS. THE COMMITTEE SHOULD EXAMINE THE JOINT

DECLARATION CAREFULLY, IT SHOULD CARRY OUT ITS INVESTIGATHON AND RESEARCH WELL, AND SHOULD SEEK THE OPINIONS OF ALL CIRCLES IN HONG KONG AND EXAMINE THEM CAREFULLY. IT WOULD TAKE THE PRINCIPLE OF

DEMOCRATIC DISCUSSION AS THE BASIS OF ITS WORK. PROBLEMS WOULD NOT BE DIFFICULT TO SOLVE THROUGH SUCH DISCUSSION, TAKING RELEVANT PROVISIONS IN THE JOINT DECLARATION AS COMMON GROUND. THERE WOULD BE 2 OR 3 MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE A YEAR. EACH WOULD LAST ABOUT

FIVE DAYS. A PROPOSED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SECRETARIAT TO

HANDLE THE COMMITTEE'S DAILY WORK. HE REFERRED TO DISCUSSION

IN HONG KONG ABOUT A CONSULTATIVE ORGANISATION ON THE BASIC LAW. HE WELCOMED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SUCH A BODY. IT COULD COLLECT OPINIONS, SUGGESTIONS AND DOCUMENTS. HE HOPED HONG KONG MEMBERS

ON THE COMMITTEE WOULD SET UP SUCH AN ORGANISATION AT AN EARLY DATE.

THOMSON

HONG KONG AGREEMENT

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER)

PS

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR W HARD ING

MR WILSON

SIR J FREELAND

MR J CROWLEY, PUSD

COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET

MR MALLABY

OFFICE CABINET OFFICE R DRC CHRISTOPHER. CABINET OFF. SIR P CRADDOCK, No. 10 DOWNING ST.

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