CONFIDENTIAL
054156
MDADAN 3579
19. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WAS COMMENDED BY MEMBERS FOR THE OPEN MANNER IN WHICH THE DRAFTING OF THE BL HAD PROCEEDED AND THE OPPORTUNITIES MADE AVAILABLE FOR HK PEOPLE TO COMMENT ON THE DRAFT. THE DEBATE WAS CONDUCTED IN A CONSTRUCTIVE SPIRIT. THERE WAS HARDLY A TIME WHEN IT DWELT ON MERE GENERALITIES. MEMBERS COMMENTED ON THE DRAFT BL IN DETAIL, OFTEN QUOTING THE RELEVANT CLAUSES IN THE DRAFT AND MAKING SUGGESTIONS FOR ALTERNATIVE TEXTS.
20.
THE DELIBERATIONS IN THE OMELCO AD HOC GROUP ON CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT DURING THE LAST TWO MONTHS ON THE DRAFT BL HAVE PREPARED MEMBERS WELL FOR THE OCCASION. THEIR COMMENTS ARE GENERALLY SHART AND UNSPARING, ESPECIALLY ON THOSE ARTICLES CONCERNING THE CPG/SAR RELATIONSHIP. THEY ALSO DISPLAYED A GOOD DEGREE OF COORDINATION IN THAT THE KEY AREAS OF CONCERNS IN THE DRAFT BL WERE COVERED COMPREHENSIVELY AND THERE WAS LESS DUPLICATION IN THE CONTENTS OF THEIR SPEECHES THAN ONE WOULD EXPECT IN A DEBATE OF THIS NATURE.
21. WE WILL REPORT TOMMOROW ON PRESS COVERAGE AND REACTION.
WILSON
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
5
ADVANCE
5
.HONG KONG AGREEMENT
MR MCLAREN
(RESTRICTED)
HD/HKD
NNNN
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
PAGE 5 CONFIDENTIAL
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