TNAG-1842-FCO40-2617-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 56

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A.

1

CONGRUENCE OF BASIC LAW AND JOINT DECLARATION

1

1.

General

HOW HAS HMG SATISFIED ITSELF THAT PROVISIONS OF BASIC LAW FULLY

ACCORD WITH TERMS OF JOINT DECLARATION?

W

Drafting of Basic Law is matter for Chinese Government.

Our

- But we have been following drafting process very closely. legal and linguistic experts have studied text very carefully. have been conducting fruitful dialogue with Chinese authorities throughout drafting process.

Have principally sought to ensure that Chinese authorities are made aware of concerns expressed by Hong Kong people about the

draft.

HMG

-

Have also

For example, have drawn attention of Chinese to records of debates in Legislative Council and District Boards in Hong Kong. passed to Chinese Hansards of Parliamentary debate.

WHAT REPRESENTATIONS HAVE YOU MADE TO THE CHINESE?

- We have offered our comments privately through diplomatic channels. Dialogue has been fruitful.

But would not be appropriate

to disclose details of such communication.

}

IS HMG SATISFIED THAT BASIC LAW FAITHFULLY AND FULLY REFLECTS

PROVISIONS OF JOINT DECLARATION?

Many of our Basic Law has already gone through two drafts. concerns, and those expressed by public in Hong Kong, already ta

into account.

Much of first draft was satisfactory. Some parts of it quoted Joint Declaration verbatim. But it contained a number of deficiencies which were identified during consultation process,