TNAG-1603-FCO40-2210-Future-of-Hong-Kong-annual-reports-to-Parliament-on-Hong-Kon-1987 — Page 152

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INDEX

OF 241505Z NOVEMBER 87

INFO PRIORITY PEKING

011

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MDLOAN 4607

MY FIFTH IPT: ANNUAL REPORT ON HONG KONG: PASSAGE ON THE BASIC

LAW

E)

REGION.

1.

DRAFTING OF THE BASIC LAW OF THE HONG KONG ADMINISTRATIVE

UNDER ARTICLE 3(12) OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, THE POLICIES OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA REGARDING HONG KONG, WHICH ARE SET OUT IN PARA 3 OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, AND THE ELABORATION OF THEM IN ANNEX I OF THE JOINT DECLARATION,

WILL BE STIPULATED IN A BASIC LAW OF THE HONG KONG SPECIAL

ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA BY THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS.

DURING THE PAST YEAR, THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE, APPOINTED BY THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS, HAS MET ON THREE OCCASIONS IN PEKING. IN ADDITION, MEETINGS OF THE FIVE SPECIAL GROUPS OF THE DRAFTING COMMITTEE WHICH CONSIDER PARTICULAR AREAS OF THE BASIC LAW, HAVE TAKEN PLACE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. A FIRST DRAFT OF THE BASIC LAW IS DUE TO BE

PUBLISHED IN 1988 IN HONG KONG. THIS WILL BE

FOLLOWED BY AN EXTENSIVE PERIOD OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION IN THE TERRITORY BEFORE THE PROMULGATION OF THE BASIC LAW BY THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS, CURRENTLY EXPECTED IN 1990.

3 =

THE BASIC LAW CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE IN HONG KONG HAS

CONTINUED TO PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN RELATION TO THE DRAFTING PROCESS, COLLATING THE VIEWS OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE AND REFLECTING THESE TO THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE IN PEKING.

4.

HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT TAKE THE CLOSEST INTEREST IN THE DRAFTING OF THE BASIC LAW, WHICH WILL IN DUE COURSE GIVE LEGAL EFFECT TO THE ARRANGEMENTS NEGOTIATED AND AGREED BETWEEN THE

BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS FOR THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.

THE GOVERNMENT WELCOME THE SIGNIFICANT ROLE WHICH IS BEING

PLAYED BY THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG IN THIS VITAL ASPECT OF THEIR OWN FUTURE. IN CONTACTS WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, THE GOVERNMENT HAVE EXPRESSED THE VIEW THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG

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