TNAG-1397-FCO40-1869-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Basic-Law-1985 — Page 60

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(A2)

SHALL BE CONSTITUTED BY ELECTIONS SEMICOLON AND THAT THE EXECUTIVE AUTHORITIES SHALL BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE LEGISLATURE). THESE PRINCIPLES REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, WHICH ARE SHARED BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND WHICH HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. THE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG WILL CONTINUE TO BE FULLY CONSISTENT WITH THESE PRINCIPLES.

BUT WILL THERE DE CONSULTATIONS WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT OVER THE 1987 REVIEW?

UNTIL 1997 BRITAIN WILL REMAIN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE

ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG AND WILL DISCHARGE THAT

RESPONSIBILITY. A CRUCIAL PART OF THAT RESPONSIBILITY IS TO ENSURE, IN CLOSE CO-OPERATION WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, A SMOOTH TRANSFER OF GOVERNMENT IN 1997. THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP REQUIRE IT TO CONSIDER, DURING THE SECOND HALF OF THE PERIOD UP TO 1997, THE PROCEDURES TO BE ADOPTED FOR THE SMOOTH TRANSITION IN

1997. ALL OF THESE ARE IMPORTANT POINTS THAT WE MUST BEAR IN

MIND AT ALL TIMES.

(Q3) WILL THE DISCUSSION IN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP REPRESENT

INTERFERENCE BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT IN THE ADMINISTRATION

OF HONG KONG BEFORE 1997?

(A3)

NO. THE DISCUSSION WILL SE AIMED AT ENSURING A SMOOTH

TRANSITION IN 1997, WHICH IS IN THE MUTUAL INTERESTS OF THE

BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS AND OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG

KONG. THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP IS AN ORGAN OF LIAISON AND NOT

AN ORGAN OF POWER.

(Q4) THE HKG WILL CONDUCT ITS REVIEW OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT

IN 1987. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WILL BE PUBLISHING A FIRST

DRAFT OF THE BASIC LAW IN 1933. NEITHER SIDE SEEMS TO BE

CONSULTING THE OTHER. HOW CAN WE PREVENT CONFLICTS BETWEEN

THE STRUCTURES DEVELOPED SEPARATELY BY THE TWO GOVERNMENTS?

(A4)

THE DRAFTING OF THE BASIC LAW IS PRIMARILY A MATTER FOR THE

CHINESE GOVERNMENT. THE POLICIES WHICH WILL BE STIPULATED IN

THE BASIC LAW ARE ALREADY STATED IN CONSIDERABLE DETAIL IN

THE JOINT DECLARATION. CHINESE LEADERS HAVE ALSO STATED THAT, IN DRAFTING THE BASIC LAW, THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG / KONG

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