TNAG-1399-FCO40-1871-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Basic-Law-1985 — Page 96

BASIC LAW (107)

Date

Statements by Chinese

Officials

Newspaper Comments/Editorials Non-Communist

Communist

3.7.85 (cont'd)

NCNA HK director Xu Jiatun: There indeed was a contradiction between the need for HK members to be accountable to HK people and the need to keep the proceedings of the drafting committee confidential. This contradiction was difficult to resolve. Confidentiality was needed because any information leak might result in wide

fluctuation in share prices.

4.7.85

Statements/Comments

by others

Sing Pao: The drafting committee should issue press release from time to time to inform HK people of the progress of its work. The confidentiality rule should not bar drafting members from expressing their personal views.

Ching Po: HK's prosperity and stability would be better maintained if the

Basic law would be in line with HK people's wishes.

agree that manufacturing, exports and tourism are the pillar of the local

economy.

Drafting committee member Szeto Wah: Ji Pengfei did not mention "self rule" and "a high degree of autonomy" in his opening speech. These two important points should be mentioned in the summing up speech.

CU lecturer Dr Joseph Cheng: The inclusion of HK drafting members in the consultative body would mean closer links between the two groups.