Mr Sumberg
72.
I would like to press you on what Sir John Stanley was asking.
If the negotiations are as detailed as Mr Hum says, I am surprised that
they have not been pressed more strongly to come forward with their
detailed objections to where the Governor is in breach of the Basic Law.
We could not get it out of them when we were there, and what you appear to
be telling us is that neither can you or neither can the negotiating team,
and yet this seems to be a very fundamental part of the negotiations.
are totally at a loss to understand what is the detailed Chinese objection
to the Governor's proposals.
We
(Mr Chamberlain) I think the answer is that perhaps things have
moved on slightly, and we are now in the process of negotiating with the
Chinese. That was certainly the case when the Governor's proposals were
made. I think it would be perhaps unwise to speculate at this stage as to
whether they still maintain that view, or whether things have not moved on
in the light of the negotiations which are going on.
Chairman:
There is another aspect in which it might be said that
Beijing is not observing really the spirit of these three documents, and
that relates to the commitment to observe the previous system and life
style. Mr Gapes wants to pursue that.
Mr Gapes
73.
As you are aware, the Joint Declaration refers to the current
social and economic system in Hong Kong will remain unchanged, and so will
the life style. That is from 1984. The Basic Law from 1990 says that the
previous capitalist system and way of life shall remain unchanged for 50
years. Can you give us your interpretation of this statement about the
previous system and life style? The wording is slightly different.
this apply to 1984, 1990 or 1997?
Previous to what?
Does
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