5
as
Apired
to other people
in China
are stipulated by legislation, leaving the more specific laws to be decided by the legislative body. Such arrangement is good, the problems involving principles have to be stated clearly. On the other hand, a high degree of autonomy means that Hong Kong people would be accorded with human rights. Being endowed with the legislative power, the Hong Kong people can make supple- ments to the Basic Law. The Basic Law is not a concrete law, it can be supplemented from time to time. The central government should not stipulate the law rigidly. Under the present condition, detailed arrangement is not possible. As conditions will be different after 1997, perfection can also be gradually attained in accordance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration. Such a process takes much time. We have to solicit public opinions, draft the laws and arrange for the exchange of opinions between the Chinese government and the Hong Kong people. It is only after these procedures that the final version can be adopted by the central government. We hope that the Hong Kong people will voice their opinions and make more comments. Do not be afraid to speak up. This can help to maintain the long-term stability and prosperity of Hong Kong. (Xu Jiatun: "The drafting of the Basic Law is to follow a democratic line.) This task cannot be completed, within 30 or 50 years. This is a long- term work. The reason why the Basic Law is not called the constitution is because we do not like it to be too rigid.
14.
Your opinions will be considered in depth and incorporated in the Basic Law as far as possible. However, we have to consider the following three points:
(a) As the Basic Law will be published in 1990
and come into effect in 1997, I cannot discuss the SAR Government's business here because it has to be decided by the future SAR Government.
CONFIDENTIAL
/ (b) There
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