TNAG-1862-FCO40-2639-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Basic-Law-1989 — Page 73

Problem

CONFIDENTIAL

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30 ·

Preferred Redraft

Authentic English text of the BL

: The draft BL does not

expressly provide that it would

have an authentic and

authoritative English version.

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The Basic Law should have an

authoritative and authentic English

text. A possible draft for inclusion in

the Basic Law is as follows:

"The NPC shall cause to be prepared, and shall publish, a text in the English language of this Law (and of any amendment or interpretation thereof by the NPC or the Standing Committee of the

NPC). Copies of such a text shall be

accepted as authoritative versions of this Law for all purposes in the Hong Kong SAR."

Proposed formula to provide for the

Chinese text of the Basic Law to prevail

over the English text:

"In the event of a conflict between the

Chinese and English texts of this Law which cannot be resolved by the courts, the Chinese text shall prevail."

CONFIDENTIAL

Possible Channels

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legal experts channel

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BLDC interlocutors : Rayson

Huang, Maria Tam