TNAG-2363-FCO40-3434-Visits-by-MPs-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 83

Basic Law

4.

The Basic Law was promulgated on 4 April 1990 by the Chinese National People's Congress after nearly 5 years work by the Basic Law Drafting Committee (BLDC), a body appointed by the Chinese and composed-of-Hong Kong and mainland

Chinese members. It is a piece of Chinese legislation

giving effect under the Chinese constitution to the

provisions of the Joint Declaration, and will be a

constitutional charter for Hong Kong after 1997. The Basic Law thus sets out and amplifies "the basic policies" in the Joint Declaration: in parts it copies verbatim from the Joint Declaration, in others it goes into considerably more detail. Our view is that, on the whole, the Basic Law is an

acceptable reflection of the Joint Declaration though there

are some provisions which we would have preferred to have

seen drafted differently.

Joint Liaison Group

5.

The main forum for the implementation of the Joint Declaration and the discussion of matters relating to the

smooth transfer of government in 1997 is the Sino-British

Joint Liaison Group (JLG). The JLG meets at least three times a year, alternating between London, Hong Kong and Peking. Each side is headed by a Senior Representative of ambassadorial rank, resident in Hong Kong. The last JLG meeting was held in Peking on 12-14 March. In the wake of

the events in June 1989 in China JLG business was

temporarily suspended. We are trying to get back to normal business, which is essential to Hong Kong's confidence in arrangements for the future.

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