TNAG-1438-FCO40-1922-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 20

Speech by Sir S Y CHUNG

at a dinner given by Mr XU Jiatun on 3 March 1986

Since our last spring dinner in March 1985, the

Sino-British Joint Declaration on the Future of Hong Kong has

been ratified by both Governments in May and the transition

period for returning the sovereignty of Hong Kong to China has

begun.

During the past few months there have been some major changes in the Legislative Council and, consequently, UMELCO. For the first time, a substantial number of Members are elected

to the Legislative Council and there is an overwhelming

majority of Unofficial Members. Both the LegCo and UMELCO are now housed exclusively in the historic building at Statue

Square and physically separated from the executive branch of

Government. These are very significant developments in the move towards a Representative Government which is an important

part in the Joint Declaration.

Although the detailed structure of the SAR Government has yet to be defined by the Basic Law for Hong Kong, the Chinese Government has already committed itself in the Joint Declaration to certain basic principles. Two of these basic principles are that the legislature of HKSAR should be constituted by election and that the executive authorities shall be accountable to the legislature. The name of the legislature in the SAR may be called differently from the present Legislative Council and the present composition of its members will surely be changed. Nonetheless, it cannot be denied that the current Legislative Council and UMELCO are part and parcel of the Hona Kona Government which, in accordance with paragraph 4 of the Joint Declaration, is acting on behalf of the Government of the United Kingdom for the administration of Hong Kong until 30 June 1997.

HKK 0!!!! RECEIVED IN REGISTRY 1 8 MAR 1986

PA

Aution Taken

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