TNAG-1397-FCO40-1869-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Basic-Law-1985 — Page 69

Full Translation of Part II of An Interview with Senior Exco Unofficial Sir S.Y. Chung on Basic Law and Representative Government Published in Ming Pao on Wednesday, September 18, 1985

Writer: Margaret Ng

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

government

Text:

Q: The HK Government is now revising the government structure and promoting representative government. Are there any ways to keep the implementation of the representative system in line with the drafting of the provisions of the Basic Law on government structure?

-

A: This is really a chick-and-egg question! If I am fortunate enough to have the chance to express my views to the Chinese and the British Governments of course, it is purely theoretical I would suggest the

With its two governments work more closely to examine the issue. experience in administration under the free world democratic structure, the British Government should provide the Chinese Government with some ideas on what sort of government structure the future HK SAR should have. If the Chinese Government, after serious consideration, finds that the ideas are not bad and that no problems would consequentially arise, the two governments could then reach a tacit understanding and draw up a blueprint which should be tried out point by point over the next 12 years. Should the experiment prove successful, it would be adopted as the future HK government structure.

Sub-headlines:

Q:

China and Britain should negotiate the future HK government structure

Umelco members could serve as advisers to the two

countries

Should the negotiations be held by the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group?

A:

They could be conducted by the JLG. But Umelco members should act as advisers to the two governments and raise their views to the Chinese and the British Governments. It is just like what a company would do in the event it has to sell its subsidiary to another company. The new parent company, in order to draw up a management structure for its future subsidiary, would seek the views of the old parent company. At the same time, both the new and old parent companies would consult the management of the subsidiary to find out whether there are any areas where improvements should be made.