TNAG-1722-FCO40-2415-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Basic-Law-1988 — Page 161

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 14 July 1988

1879

and industrial sectors. Since questions to be resolved involve Hong Kong laws and legal system, at least half of the members should be representatives from Hong Kong.

(4) The terms of reference of the committee should be established by legislation enacted by the Hong Kong Legislative Council and reported to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for information.

(V) Establishment of the first SAR Government and the Legislative Council. As we all know, this is a major task that must be completed before the Basic Law takes effect on 1 July 1997 for the smooth transition from the previous to the future Governments and for the sake of peaceful transfer and continued development, I would like to suggest the following:

(1) The Chief Executive of the first Government be elected through con-

sultations for the committee of the proposed grand electoral college. (2) The Chief Executive is Chief Executive of the SAR Government and is to appoint the principal officials of the various departments of Government. (3) Incumbent Legislative Councillors shall continue to serve for two years as from 1 July 1997. If it were still necessary for officials to attend meetings, they may be replaced by newly appointed officials.

(4) The Government and the Legislative Council should carry out reforms

gradually and progressively.

(5) The Sino-British Joint Liaison Group should provide positive non-

intervening assistance for a stable transfer.

(6) The political structure provided in the Basic Law should, as far as possible, converge with the political structure developed through re- presentative government.

(7) Localisation of the Civil Service should be carried out in phases.

I share the views of the public in accepting the resumption of China's sovereignty. Given this indisputable fact, the Basic Law should not unneces- sarily emphasise the rights of sovereignty. The most important thing is the legal system, as provided by the Joint Declaration. More important than Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong is the principle of Hong Kong laws governing Hong Kong.

Sir, with this remarks I support the motion.

MR. CLYDESDALE: Sir, enough has been written already about the draft Basic Law to fill several libraries and I do not propose today to add another book to the shelves. Nor do I propose to labour upon the points already so ably made by my colleagues both yesterday and today.

I am principally concerned with the views, some of these preliminary, expressed by the committees of my constituency, set up to consider this unique and important document. Before dealing with specifics however let me make a