TNAG-1752-FCO40-2472-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1988 — Page 45

National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China in

accordance with article 31 of its own constitution. Rather than to

try to dra comparisons between this and the present constitution,

it would be more useful and constructive to concentrate our efforts

on arrangements for a smooth transition in 1997. These practical

criteria are fully acknowledged in the Joint Declaration.

NOW

10. The method by which the Basic Law has been drafted reflects the

concern of the Chinese Government to ensure that it meets the

concerns of the Hong Kong people and for it to provide for a smooth

transfer of government in 1997. The Basic Law is being drafted by a

Basic Law Drafting Committee set up by the Chinese Government.

Almost half the members of this committee come from Hong Kong. This

has ensured that the people of Hong Kong have been involved in the

drafting process from the start. We have welcomed the extent to

which their views have been scrupulously taken into account.

the first stage of the drafting committee's work is nearing completion. The committee will meet in plenary session in Peking in

April. Shortly afterwards, in early May, a first draft of the Basic

Law will be published in Hong Kong. Thereafter there will be a period of five months for consultation, so as to give the people of Hong Kong an opportunity to comment on the first draft and to make

their views known. These views will be collected by the Basic Law

Consultative Committee which has already been established in the

territory. This procedure will give the people of Hong Kong the

means to influence the content of the second draft of the law, which

will be published in the Autumn, before the final version is

promulgated in 1990. All this demonstrates a meticulous regard for the views of Hong Kong people. I hope that hon Members will join me in welcoming the opportunities for repeated consultations provided

by the Chinese Government.

11.

At the end of this process we will wish to see, and I am

confident that we shall see, a Basic Law which fully implements the

terms of the Sino-British Joint Declaration. The drafting of the

Basic Law is of course the sovereign right of the Government of the

People's Republic of China. But the implementation of the Joint

Declaration through the Basic Law is a matter in which we and this House have a legitimate interest.

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