CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 3552
OF 251058Z OCTOBER 89
CONFIDENTIAL
1113 HKB 011 13
111543
MDHIAN 1418
TOP COPY Q DIST
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, BTC HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
311
MIPT: FAC REPORT IN HONG KONG
(466
OUR COMMENTS, ON YOUR PROPOSED OUTLINE OF REPLY ARE AS FOLLOWS:
FCO TELNO 2154
(A)
(B)
SECOND TIRET:
WE SHOULD REFER TO REVISION OF THE (NEXT WORLD UNDERLINED)
DRAFT BASIC LAW.
THIRD TIRET:
THE REPLY COULD BE READ AS IMPLYING THAT IT IS IN OUR POWER TO PROPOSE REVISION OF ASPECTS OF THE DRAFT BASIC LAW. WE NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL IN ANY FORMAL DOCUMENT ON
HOW WE DEFINE OUR LOCUS VIS-A-VIS THE BASIC LAW.
(C) FOURTH TIRET:
(D)
(E)
SIMILAR CARE IS NEEDED IN THE REPLY TO THIS POINT. IT IS CERTAINLY NOT FOR HMG TO SAY THAT THERE SHOULD NOT BE TOO
MUCH DETAIL IN THE BASIC LAW.
SIXTH TIRET:
WE SUGGEST A REPLY ON THE FOLLOWING LINES -
''HAVE ALREADY INDICATED TO CHINESE THAT WE BELIEVE ARTICLE 157 COULD BE CLARIFIED TO ENSURE THAT THE HONG KONG SAR IS ABLE TO EXERCISE INTERPRETIVE POWER IN THOSE FIELDS WHERE IT WILL ENJOY AUTONOMY UNDER THE TERMS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, I.E
E IN ALL FIELDS EXCEPT DEFENCE AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
·
EIGHTH TIRET:
WE SUGGEST A REPLY ON THE FOLLOWING LINES:
''THE GOVERNOR HAS ANNOUNCED RECENTLY IN THE HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT A BILL OF RIGHTS WILL BE ENACTED TO GIVE EFFECT IN LOCAL LAW TO THE RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS. THE PLAN IS TO PUBLISH A DRAFT BILL FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION BY
1
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