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16.
The production of the first draft of the Basic Law is the
outcome of considerable effort. The Joint Declaration itself was an
international instrument without precedent. It is still more remarkable that its provisions are now to be reflected in China's domestic law, giving assurance that for 50 years a dynamic, free-trading economy will retain a high degree of autonomy within a socialist state. The imaginative concept of "one country,
systems" is thus taking legal shape.
17.
it
Where the substance of the draft Basic Law is concerned, is a long and complex instrument. Much of it reproduces provisions of the Joint Declaration word for word: this is obviously reassuring. For the rest, we shall continue to study it carefully and to pay close attention to comments made on the draft, particularly in Hong Kong.
18.
It has to be borne in mind that this is no more than an
initial text. The full title of the document in which it is
published is "Draft basic law for the solicitation of opinions": this accurately reflects its status. It is not yet complete. Nor is it perfect, as Chinese spokesmen readily acknowledge.
19.
At the prsent stage we are at the beginning of a lengthy period of consultation. The present draft, published on 28 April, will be open for comment for five months. During that period delegations of drafters from the mainland will visit Hong Kong for intensive programmes of consultation. A timetable has been drawn up to ensure that consideration is given systematically and in turn to each part of the draft. Thereafter the draft will be revised. A second draft will be published in 1989 and the entire consultation process repeated before a further revision of the text is formally submitted to the National People's Congress in 1990 to be passed into law. We welcome these very considerable efforts made by the Chinese authorities to engage in consultation with Hong Kong people.
20. I would call on people in Hong Kong to participate fully in the consultation exercise and to make their views on the draft
known.
There is no lack of opportunity for them to do so. There is every reason to believe that those directly responsible for the
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