TNAG-1899-FCO40-2697-Future-of-Hong-Kong-briefing-1989 — Page 215

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SUYAEN

HONG KONG

Points to make

RESTRICTED

p.a. pl

{ BASIC LAW

Points to Make

Have been following reports on the outcome of the recent Basic

Law Drafting Committee (BLDC) meeting with interest.

studying

to seelag revised draft in Aprit, when it is

Look forward

published.

BACKGROUND

の

10 out of 51

4. BLDC VIII took place in Canton from 9-15 January.

amendments to the draft put forward were accepted. A revised draft was passed by the meeting for submission to the National People's

Congress (NPC), probably

not been set.

February.

A dute

for formal publication was

2. The most notable amendment passed was the endorsement of the

"mainstream formula" for the future political structure of the

HKSAR. A further proviso was added to the effect that a majority vote of the legislature, the consent of the Chief Executive (CE),

and the approval of the Standing Committee of the NPC would be necessary before referenda on the direct election of the Chief

Executive and the introduction of direct elections for all in the

legislature could be held. Furthermore, that results of the referenda would only be valid with the endorsement of at least 30% of the

eligible voters. The other nine amendments adopted involved mainly

minor changes to the draft Basic Law.

the

)

2.3. Li Hou (Secretary General of BLDC) stressed to reporters after

the meeting that the political provisions in the draft could still be amended further during the second consultation period. He asked all people in Hong Kong to make an effort to co-ordinate their views

and to narrow down their differences. The BLDC would then find it

easier to make a decision in future deliberations on the text.

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