TNAG-1397-FCO40-1869-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Basic-Law-1985 — Page 90

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Controversies over the Implications of "Democratic Consulation"

When drafting the Constitution of the Basic Law Consultative

Committee, the group of six (who told the public that they were of

the same view on the whole) disputed on the inclusion of the term

The term "democratic

A consultation" appeared many times in the final draft

""democratic consultation in the draft Constitution,

presented to the Hong Kong members of the Drafting Committee.

regard to the ways of selecting members of the Consultative Committee,

wordings discussed included election by "democratic consultation",

nomination and invitation.

With

consultation".

At the very beginning, LIU Yiu-chu, one of the six-member

group, said she did not understand the procedure of "democratic

Simon Li, convener of the group, refuted her

argument by maintaining that the term was no special term and could

be taken literally. In the last meeting of the group, LIU Yiu-chu

pointed out that the term "democratic consultation" had special

political implications in China's history of political development

and, therefore, had certain undesirable connotation. Another

member of the group, however, held that the meaning of the term was

quite clear. According to him/her, it means that the authorities

concerned, instead of being dictatorial, will listen to the views

of all interested parties and reach unanimity through democratic

discussion. In his/her opinion, consultation is one kind of

democratic procedure which is also adopted in western countries

and in the process of democratic consultation, dissentient opinion

can be recorded. Yet another member of the group believed that the

term had no connotation and inflexibility on its interpretation was

The same member also explained that according to the

spirit of democratic consultation, the interests of the whole should

unnecessary.

....

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