TNAG-1397-FCO40-1869-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Basic-Law-1985 — Page 233

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In the consultative committee which is a public opinion body,

there should be a certain ratio of places for the grass-root representatives

sitting on it as members of a class. There should also be a certain ratio for the younger members (aged from 30 plus to 40 plus) so that it can become a body to collect and collate extensive public opinion. At present, many social bodies have set up concerned groups on the Basic Law drafting and it is an encouraging phenomenon. Hong Kong has been allocated 23 places on the Basic Law Drafting Committee. However, it would be the more people the better when it comes to the overseeing and examining of the discussions of the Basic Law drafting. First, it is the basic political right that the Hong Kong people should have. Second, in doing everything, we should gather all useful opinions. Hence, the more Basic Law is discussed, the more support it will have and the more authoritative it will be. We should

not be afraid that too many cooks would spoil the broth, but we should fear

that too little attention is paid to it when only the parties concerned

are involved in the Basic Law drafting and the public are indifferent to

it. Third, as the Basic Law has great implications, it will have a

sufficient and long consultative period and the consultation should not

be rushed through like what has been done with the Hong Kong Government's

Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Bill. The more democratic

Beijing becomes, the more confident the Hong Kong people will be in Hong

Kong's future. This has a direct bearing on confidence.

Background leading to the Introduction of the Legislative Council (Powers and Priviledges) Bill

When the Basic Law drafting sets off satisfactorily, there happens

in Hong Kong a little trick which makes people feel uneasy.

The recent coming out of the Legislative Council (Powers and

Priviledges) Bill is a typical move of Government's disregard of public

opinion. According to the LegCo members, amendments have been made to the

provisions of the Bill in the second reading and that they have taken heed

of public opinion which 'supports the Bill'.

Later, some people even say that this Bill is made by the Hong

Kong Government on the instruction of Beijing. It is because it seems

that the purpose of this change set forth by the Hong Kong Government

is to make Hong Kong people gradually adapt to the new situations after

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