TNAG-1594-FCO40-2179-Honk-Kong-leading-personality-Sir-Yue-Kong-Pao--businessman-1987 — Page 46

CONFIDENTIAL

VISIT OF SIR Y K PAO, JULY 1987

Background

A. REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT

Sir Y K shares Chinese concern over the pace of

constitutional change in Hong Kong and has in the past sought to

reflect these to Ministers.

1.

B. BASIC LAW

2.

Sir Y K is one of 8 Vice-Chairmen of the Basic Law Drafting

Committee (BLDC). He does not play a very active part.

3.

The most recent plenary meeting of the BLDC, its fourth, took

place from 13-17 April in Peking. As far as we know, Sir Y K was

present. Quite a lot of progress has been made, particularly in

five Special Groups established to look at specific areas, in drawing up draft articles. We have been monitoring the process

carefully and feeding in thoughts as and how we can. So far the

drafts follow the Joint Declaration satisfactorily. But there are

difficult areas, mostly technical and legal in nature, where we are

seeking to bring some influence to bear. Sir Y K is not, however,

suitable channel.

a

4.

We understand the overall programme for the drafting of the

Basic Law to be:

(a)

(b)

Preliminary text produced by the Drafting Committee in early

1988. Published in Hong Kong for consultation;

Revised draft Basic Law produced in late 1988-early 1989 for

submission to the Chinese National People's Congress (NPC)

Standing Committee. Draft published in Hong Kong;

CONFIDENTIAL

BACKGROUND