TNAG-1397-FCO40-1869-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Basic-Law-1985 — Page 248

departments (15), public figures (10), and members

of the legal circles (11). The officers-in-charge of related government departments include officials of Hong Kong & Macau Affairs Office, Foreign Ministry,

the NPC Law Committee and Committee for the Legal

System under the NFC Standing Committee etc. Members of the legal circles include well-known legal experts from Beijing University, the NPC Standing Committee

and International Law Research Institute etc. The

remainder are public figures. Out of the total of 59 members, 2/5 (23) are Hong Kong side members.

This proportion is by no means small. The aforesaid membership list has been considered over and over again

for several months. Deliberations and consultations on

the membership of the Basic Law Drafting Committee

started well before the 3rd Session of the 6th NPC

Standing Committee and there was already a preliminary

proposed list at that time, but it was not put forward

because it was unripe.

Just as Comrade DENG Xiaoping pointed out, there is only one

criterion of selection, namely, the love for China and Hong Kong. The

people of Hong Kong have felt great concern over how big a say they will have in the Basic Law Drafting Committee. We, therefore, took their wish

into consideration in working out the membership list. Out of the eight

Vice-chairmen of the Committee, four are Hong Kong side members. The

Hong Kong side members come from various sectors. There are members of the Legilsative Council and the Executive Council, Justice of Appeal and

personages close to the Hong Kong government. There are also the Vice-

chancellor of University of Hong Kong, the Vice-chancellor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and even members of the religious circles.

According to estimation, the list will be announced on 19 June.