TNAG-1718-FCO40-2398-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1988 — Page 89

SUPAAL

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B.

BASIC LAW

Basic Law will stipulate policies of PRC for post-1997 Hong Kong in implementation of paragraph 3(12) of JD.

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House will understand that drafting of BL is a matter for Chinese Government. But HMG naturally take closest interest in the

process.

Believe that Hong Kong people attach greatest importance to BL clearly and unambiguously reflecting all provisions of JD.

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Understand that full text of draft BL will be formally published

after refinement in May.

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Hong Kong people will then have four months to comment on it,

before it is revised further.

Welcome fact that Hong Kong people have been involved in drafting process and will be fully consulted.

Inclusion of International Human Rights Covenants?

Present draft of BL as published in Hong Kong contains clause stating "the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as applied to Hong Kong shall be implemented by

the law of the Hong Kong SAR".

I have no doubt that Chinese Government intend to ensure that BL will enshrine rights as presently enjoyed in Hong Kong.

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BASIC LAW