other sections of the community are contributing actively to the
debate.
6.
The focus of interest so far is on the following areas:
(a) Whether the Hong Kong SAR will enjoy the promised high degree
of autonomy
The People's Republic of China will be the sovereign power
over Hong Kong. However, the draft Basic Law provides in Article 2
that the Hong Kong SAR will be authorised "to exercise a high degree
of autonomy in accordance with the provisions of this Law and to
enjoy executive, legislative and independent judicial power,
including that of final adjudication". Inevitably the draft
provides that certain powers will be reserved to the central
authorities (eg in foreign affairs and defence). Similar
reservations exist today.
(b)
The relationship between the Basic Law and the Chinese
Constitution
The Basic Law will provide a clear definition of the constitutional relationship between Hong Kong and the Central authorities. It will stipulate those areas in which the SAR has autonomy. This can be seen as an improvement on the present position, where there are grey
and where the British Government retains the theoretical
ultimate right to direct the Hong Kong Government across the board. In comparison the powers available to the Central People's Government after 1997 will be more clearly defined and limited to
specific areas.
areas,
The Basic Law takes its legal basis from Article 31 of the People's Republic of China Constitution. That Article allows for systems different from thos in mainland China to be practised in the Hong Kong SAR. The draft Basic Law prescribes (Article 4) that the SAR will maintain the previous capitalist system and lifestyle for
50 years, and that the socialist system and policies will not be practised in the SAR. More clearly, Article 10, of the Basic Law says that the SAR's social and economic systems, the system for
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