TNAG-1839-FCO40-2614-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 26

Government through diplomatic channels.

39.

In November, the five Special Groups under the BLDC resumed their discussions and considered how the first

draft should be revised. Following a further plenary meeting held in Canton from 9 to 15 January 1989, a second draft was agreed. After endorsement by the

Standing Committee of the NPC, this was published on 1989

for further public consultation. The results of this

consultation will then be further considered by the BLDC and the Basic Law will be enacted by the NPC in 1990.

40.

The

Although the drafting of the Basic Law is a matter

for the Chinese authorities, the British Government have

the right to satisfy themselves that its provisions

properly reflect the terms of the Joint Declaration.

British Government have been following the process very

closely, and have had a fruitful dialogue with the

Chinese authorities over the drafting process. In

particular, they have sought to ensure that the Chinese

n

authorities are fully aware of the concerns of Hong Kong

people about the draft.

41. The first draft of the Basic Law was a generally

encouraging document. Much of it was in satisfactory

form. Some parts of it quoted the Joint Declaration

verbatim. But it contained a number of deficiencies

which we have been pressing to have rectified. Although

it is too soon to assess public reaction in Hong Kong it

is clear that it contains a number of substantial