TNAG-2716-FCO40-3922-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1993 — Page 74

Legco Paper No. 176/93-94 (These notes have been seen by the Administration)

Governor's Policy Address: Notes of Briefing

by Mr Michael SZE, ISO, JP Secretary for Constitutional Affairs on 15 October 1993 at 11:30 a..

in the Legislative Council Chamber

The Secretary for Constitutional Affairs (SCA) and the Law Officer (International Law) (LO(IL)) briefed Members on the progress of work of the Joint Liaison Group (JLG) by presenting the information in the attached Appendices I and II.

2.

The main points covered by the SCA and LO(IL) response to Members' questions are summarised below.

Future Briefings on the Work of JLG

3.

in

The Administration would be happy

be happy to brief Members regularly of the work of the JLG to the extent possible and within the constraints laid down in the Joint Declaration (JD). It was important that the work of the JLG should adversely affected by such discussions.

not be matter could be further considered in the House Committee.

Members agreed that the

Application of Chinese Law in the Administrative Region (HKSAR)

4.

Hong Kong Special

The qualifications of candidates disqualification. grounds

for election, and and procedures for the legislature

Hong were clearly laid down in the laws of

Kong which would continue

Hong Hong Kong to apply after 1997 one-country-two-systems principle.

under the It was important to agree on objective criteria for the 'through train' which acceptable to both the British and Hong Kong Governments.

Agenda of the JLG

5.

would be

It would be necessary to take advice from the British side of the JLG before an answer could be given subjects which would be discussed in the JLG.

on all the had already been made public through press conferences by both The key issues the British and Chinese teams. A written reply provided.

would be

6.

Constitutional refer Members to the relevant Branches.

Affairs

Branch who

If there were any items that Members considered should be discussed by the JLG, they could be referred

then co-ordinate

to

the

would

and

Progress of Work

The British side and

the

was

7. working hard and a very large number of papers had been prepared

a

Hong Kong Government