TNAG-1397-FCO40-1869-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Basic-Law-1985 — Page 65

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Full Translation of Part I of An Interview with Senior Exco Unofficial Sir S.Y. Chung on Basic Law and Representative Government Published in Ming Pao on Tuesday, September 17, 1985

HKR 040/21

Writer:

Margaret Ng

Main Headline: Sir S.Y. Chung speaks on Basic Law and representative

government

KAPR

Text:

How should Umelco members take part in Basic Law drafting? How can we prevent the representative system, which is being promoted at full steam, from coming into conflict with the provisions of the future Basic Law on the government structure? Although the Chinese Government has promised not to interfere with Britain's administration of HK in the next 12 years, would China overrule everything 12 years later if it did not accept the reforms introduced by the HK Government?

On the other hand, would direct elections and a ministerial system, which people generally think will inevitably be introduced,

If a encounter problems when they were actually implemented? ministerial system is not adopted, how can the principle that the executive branch of government should be responsible to the legislature

be materialised?

This series of questions forms the centre of discussions on the current administrative reforms. Regrettably, many people raise questions, but very few provide answers. The writer has interviewed Senior Exco Unofficial Sir S.Y. Chung to seek his views on these questions. Sir S.Y. speaks his mind where others dare not. In today's circumstances, his views are rather controversial. But taken into account his qualifications, status and influence, it is believed that people could not disregard his views even though they might disagree with him.

Sub-headlines: Legco Unofficials who are also members of the BLDC can definitely reflect the views of Umelco

Q: Sir S.Y., the Basic Law is a matter which HK people are very concerned about. Do you think Umelco members should take part in

this?

A: I think they should take part in it. There are several Unofficial members of the current and the next Legco who are also members of the BLDC. It is believed that they can definitely reflect the views of Umelco members to the drafting committee. Of course, they accepted the appointments to the BLDC in their personal capacities and were not representatives of Umelco. They may not agree entirely with the collective views of the Unofficials, but they can definitely serve as a

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