future for at least 50 years after 1997. It will crucially affect the way in which Hong Kong people view the future and their commitment to the territory. The drafting of the Basic Law should therefore take full account of the concerns of Hong Kong people and that the final version should be in a form which commands their confidence and enjoys the widest possible support in the territory. We have made our views on these matters known to the Chinese Government through a number of channels: but the Committee will understand that if these representations are to be effective, their confidentiality must be respected. The Committee will therefore understand why the Government make no detailed observations on the Committee's specific recommendations at this stage.
6. The Committee recommends (paragraph 2.9) that the Hong Kong Government should begin work on a review of existing Hong Kong legislation to identify areas which might be seen as conflicting in some way with the International Covenants on Human Rights. This work is under way. The Committee will be aware that the Governor of Hong Kong announced in his speech to the Legislative Council on 11 October 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. It is intended that draft Bill will be published for public consultation by the end of this year and draft legislation will be introduced by July 1990.
7. The Committee recommends (paragraph 2.13) that the Government should make clear to the Chinese Government the strength of feeling in Hong Kong about the stationing of the PLA in the territory after 1997. The Government believe that the Chinese Government are in no doubt about the importance of this question for confidence in Hong Kong. After 1997 it will be China's sovereign right to station Chinese troops in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the purpose of defence. The Joint Declaration provides for this. But we have urged the Chinese Government to take Hong Kong's sensitivities fully into account in their handling of this issue.
(III) Actions Within Hong Kong
8. The Government share the Committee's view that the best future for the people of Hong Kong lies in the continuing prosperity and stability of the territory (paragraph 3.3). In line with the Committee's recommendations (paragraph 3.5) the Governor has already announced the decision of the Hong Kong Government to build a new airport and ancillary developments, including port expansion and associated transport infrastructure. These will be the biggest infrastructure projects ever undertaken in Hong Kong, costing £10bn over the next 15 years or so.
9. The Government have taken careful note of the Committee's recommendations on the development of democracy in Hong Kong (paragraphs 3.10, 3.11 and 3.14). There is intense debate on this subject in the territory, particularly in the context of the drafting of the Basic Law. We have already stressed the importance of a Basic Law which reflects the wishes of the community as a whole in Hong Kong. As far as the decisions which the Government must take about the elections in 1991 and 1995 are concerned, our guiding principles will be to take full account of Hong Kong opinion, and to try to ensure that the system which we establish before 1997 is durable and able to serve Hong Kong well in the years thereafter.
10. The Government have noted the Committee's recommendation for a Green Paper to canvass views on electoral law (paragraph 3.12). Laws governing direct elections to district boards and municipal councils already exist. There might be a need for public consultation on new legislation to be introduced before the 1991 direct elections to the Legislative Council. The form of any such consultation will be decided in due course.
11. The Government are grateful for the Committee's detailed recommendations about the Chief Executive of the future Special Administrative Region and the role of the legislature (paragraphs 3.18 to 3.22). These are questions to be decided in the context of the drafting of the Basic Law, in accordance with the Joint Declaration and taking full account of the views of Hong Kong people.
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