TNAG-1599-FCO40-2192-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1987 — Page 47

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MY 2ND IPT: REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT: WHITE PAPER: DRAFT CHAPTER VIII K(THE WAY FORWARD)

CHAPTER VIII THE WAY FORWARD

THIS WHITE PAPER CHARTS THE COURSE OF FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG UP TO 1991. THE DECISIONS IT CONTAINS ARE AIMED AT CONSOLIDATING THE BASIS UPON WHICH THE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG CAN TONTINUE TO EVOLVE IN A WAY WHICH IS BEST SUITED TO HONG KONG'S OWN CIRCUMSTANCES AND NEEDS, AND WHICH IS CONDUCIVE TO A SMOOTH TRANSFER OF GOVERNMENT IN 1997

2. THE SYSTEM AND STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT IN THE FUTURE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION WILL BE ESTABLISHED BY THE BASIC LAW WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE PROMULGATED IN THE FIRST HALF OF 1990. THE PROVISIONS OF THE BASIC LAW WILL HAVE AN IMPORTANT BEARING ON FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS, IN THE PERIOD UP TO 1997, IN SUCH AREAS AS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, THE COMPOSITION AND TERM OF OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE POSITION AND ROLE OF THE GOVERNOR IN GENERAL. IF A SMOOTH TRANSFER OF GOVERNMENT IN 1997 IS TO BE ENSURED, THESE PROVISIONS WILL NEED TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS BEYOND 1991 IN THE SYSTEM OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT ARE CONSIDERED IN DUE COURSE.

3. DURING THE NEXT FEW YEARS, THE GOVERNMENT WILL PROGRESSIVELY PUT IN PLACE DETAILED ARRANGEMENTS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE DECISIONS IN THIS WHITE PAPER. IT WILL ALSO BE CONSIDERING, IN THE LONGER TERM, THE PACE AND NATURE OF FURTHER CHANGES WHICH WILL BE NEEDED TO ENSURE CONTINUITY IN THE SYSTEM AND STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG IMMEDIATELY BEFORE AND AFTER 1 JULY 1997. THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON THESE MATTERS, BUT ANOTHER MAJOR REVIEW OF THE SAME NATURE OR SCALE AS THE ONE WHICH HAS JUST BEEN CONCLUDED IS UNLIKELY TO PROVE NECESSARY.

WILSON

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