TNAG-2289-FCO40-3293-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Basic-Law-1991 — Page 75

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NOTES

1. For the Joint Declaration ( and references to the

Joint Declaration here include references to its Annexes),

see Cmnd 9543, HMSO. The Joint Declaration was registered as an international agreement with the United Nations

by both the United Kingdom and China. See also Peter Slinn: "The Hong Kong Settlement: A Preliminary Assessment" in International Relations, Vol IX, p 1.

2.

The English text of the Basic Law was published

by the Consultative Committee for the Basic Law (BLCC) in Hong Kong in April 1990. A text approved by the Central People's Government of the PRC was published subsequently. The Basic Law consists of 160 Articles and three Annexes; there are also four associated decisions

of the NPC of the same date.

So,

3. The British Government accepted that this was

but maintained they had the right to assure themselves that the principles embodied in the Joint Declaration were faithfully implemented in the Basic Law. They

also had confidential discussions with the Chinese about

the drafting of the Basic Law: Sir G. Howe, Commons Debates,

15th July 1988, cols 690-692.

For a description of the members of the BLDC, see Emily Lau: "The Early History of the Drafting Process"

4.

in 'The Basic Law and Hong Kong's Future' edited by Wesley-

Smith and Chen.

5. Wang Hanbin, quoted in the South China Morning Post, 27th April 1989. Wang was also Vice-Chairman of the

BLDC.

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