TNAG-2735-FCO40-3943-Hong-Kong-role-of-the-Legislative-Council-(LEGCO)-1993 — Page 171

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HKB 012/3

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3 APR 1993

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY Action Taken

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FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 627

OF 220943Z APRIL 93

INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

TOP COPY Q DIST?

PEKING PLEASE PASS TO SZE VISITING

LEGCO QUESTION

1. YOU AND THE TEAM IN PEKING MAY WISH TO KNOW THAT DR TANG SIU- TONG (NT WEST, INDEPENDENT) HAS TABLED THE FOLLOWING QUESTION FOR ORAL REPLY ON 5 MAY

''WILL THE GOVERNMENT INFORM THIS COUNCIL

A) WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT, APART FROM MAKING ARRANGEMENTS TO BRING THE ELECTORAL PROVISIONS OF THE LEGISLATURE WITHIN THE TERMS OF THE BASIC LAW, HAS ANY PLANS TO ENSURE AN ORDERLY AND SMOOTH TRANSFER OF DUTIES FROM THE EXISTING EXECUTIVE AUTHORITIES

TO THE SAR GOVERNMENT IN 1997?

B) IF YES, WHETHER A TIMETABLE WOULD BE LAID DOWN FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUCH PLANS: AND WHETHER IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO HAVE ALL THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS IN PLACE ON 1 JULY 1997: AND

C) IF NO, WHAT THE REASONS ARE: AND WHEN STEPS WOULD BE TAKEN TO PLAN FOR THE TRANSFER?**

2.

THE REFERENCE TO EXECUTIVE AUTHORITIES IS TO SECTION 2 OF

CHAPTER IV OF THE BASIC LAW.

3.

OUR PRESENT FEELING IS THAT WE SHOULD ANSWER ALONG THE FOLLOWING LINES

''THE GOVERNMENT WILL DEVELOP PLANS TO ENSURE AN ORDERLY AND SMOOTH TRANSFER OF DUTIES IN DUE COURSE. THERE IS NO PRACTICAL REASON WHY SUCH ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD NOT BE IN PLACE ON 1 JULY 1997.''

4.

SUPPLEMENTARIES WILL BE NEEDED ON: CONSULTATION WITH CHINA: AND THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE: PRINCIPAL OFFICERS: THE TYPE OF PLANS ENVISAGED: ETC.

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