EE MAF '89
14:21
FROM CO1 TECH PADIC
TO FCO NEWS
PAGE.018
TRAJSCRIPT A HONG KONG SELECT COMMITTEE MEETING
22 MAR 89
17
FOREIGN SECRETARY:
The English version is conditioned by the fact that Article
9 of the draft now provides that English may be used as an
official language by the Executive Legislature and Judicial organs of the SAR, That is an improvement on the original version.
It follows that there is, therefore, clearly a need for an
But if there authentic English text and that is being produced. are disputes as to the interpretation of a particular clause of the Basic Law because of difficulties of reconciling the English
and Chinese texts, then there are, I think you will see, cogent arguments that the Chinese text will be the decisive one because it is a Chinese law in relation to a part of the People's Republic
of China.
It is for that reason that the Basic Law Drafting Committee
of the Hong Kong Government and ourselves are taking as much
trouble with the Chinese text as with the English text.
CHAIRMAN:
Can we just be clear, Secretary of State, about the status
of this draft and the next draft. Will the next draft by the
final document or will it be yet again another draft which will be
commented on?
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.