CONFIDENTIAL
TOP CUPY
27873
PP HONG KONG
GRS 425
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 251130Z JUN 85
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
HKK
040/21.
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY/
27 JUN 1985
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
TELEGRAM NUMBER 897 OF 25 JUNE
1
Ree
никокс
(1984) HKK 040/30
39
AND TO PRIORITY PEKING
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: BASIC LAW
1.
YOU WILL RECALL THAT WE GAVE SOME PRELIMINARY THOUGHT LATE
LAST YEAR TO PREPARING A PAPER ON THE DRAFTING OF THE BASIC LAW
(OUR TELNO 2500 OF 17 DECEMBER AND PEKING TELNO 3092 OF 29
DECEMBER). WE AGREED TO DELAY THE PROJECT UNTIL THE PRIME
MINISTER HAD VISITED PEKING AND IT HAD BECOME CLEAR HOW THE
CHINESE PROPOSED TO CONSULT HONG KONG OPINION ON THE DRAFTING OF
THE BASIC LAW. NOW THAT THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE HAS
BEEN NAMED WE THINK THAT A PAPER SHOULD BE PUT IN HAND.
2.
PROVIDING YOU AGREE WITH THIS VIEW, WE SUGGEST YOU TAKE THE
LEAD IN DRAFTING. WE THINK THE PAPER SHOULD FOLLOW THE GENERAL
LINES SET OUT IN OUR TELNO 2500, UPDATED TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE. WE SUGGEST
THAT THE FOLLOWING FACTORS ALSO BE CONSIDERED IN THE PAPER:
(A) WHAT USE CAN WE MAKE OF THE FRIENDLY REPRESENTATIVES FROM
HONG KONG ON THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE AND, ONCE IT IS
ESTABLISHED, OF THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE IN HONG KONG?
(B) HOW CAN WE BEST KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE SECRETARIAT OF THE
COMMITTEE (ESPECIALLY LU PING), GIVEN THAT THIS BODY WILL NO
DOUBT PLAY THE KEY ROLE IN THE DRAFTING?
(C) HOW CAN WE BEST INJECT VIEWS THROUGH THE JLG (THE ANSWER TO
WHICH IS PROBABLY 'IN THE MARGINS')?
(D)
WHAT USE WE CAN MAKE OF PENG ZHEN'S HELPFUL STATEMENT OF 29
MARCH TO REPORTERS FROM HONG KONG AND MACAU THAT ONLY
ARTICLE 31 OF THE CHINESE CONSTITUTION WOULD BE APPLICABLE
TO HONG KONG?
(E) IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT CONTROVERSY ABOUT THE INTERPRETATION
OF THE BASIC LAW SHOULD WE, THROUGH FRIENDLY REPRESENTATIVES
ON THE DRAFTING COMMITTEE, FLOAT THE IDEA (FIRST CONSIDERED
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