TNAG-1750-FCO40-2470-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1988 — Page 75

(b)

4

1997 we have steadily and securely to increase the amount of representation of local people in the government of Hong Kong. Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister,

December, 1984

in Hong Kong

21st

(ix) "The

review

will

consider

possible

(x)

developments in

the powers, composition and the method of selection of the Executive Council, including ways and means of devising

a

link

and the extent of that link

between the Executive Council and the Legislative Council by, for example, s om e form of ministerial system." Sir Philip Haddon-Cave, Chief Secretary, 9th January, 1985 in the Legislative Council of Hong Kong

"The right hon. Member for Leeds, East asked whether the Joint Liasion Group would oversee constitutional development of HK before 1997. The answer is no. It is firmly agreed that the British Govt. will be responsible for the administration of HK until 1 July 1997. That includes responsibility for constitutional development. However, we have all recognised the need in this context to keep in mind the provisions of the agreement on the future of HK, and the plans which were published in the HK Govt. White Paper were framed accordingly. Those considerations will continue to be important, but the responsibility remains

Joint Liasion Group

will have over-seeing role." Richard Luce,

2 1st January 1985, in the House of Common

ours.

The

Promises broken

to

no

of

the Kong

It is important

remember that the Draft Joint Declaration was published in Hong Kong on 29th September 1984, that is, after the publication of the Green Paper in July 1984 in which the process democratisation in Hong Kong was started by British Administration. The people of Hong accepted the Join t Declaration because of the promises of democracy. The promises of the Chinese Government of "one country, two systems", "Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong" with "a high degree of autonomy"

and the provisions in

Joint Declaration that the executive authorities of the be accountable to a fully elected legislature went hand in hand with the promises made by the British Government that a democratic form of government would be established in Hong Kong before 1997, including changes in the representative status of the Executive and Legislative Councils.

SAR

shall

the

As to the Executive Council, the 1984 Green Paper proposed that "by

1991, at least eight of the

Af

Buncution

shoul

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