TNAG-2739-FCO40-3953-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development--through-tra-1993 — Page 82

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Leglo / Through Main (New File)

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FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

RECE

*ISTRY

13

MAY 1943

TELNO 713

IN

OF 10075OZ MAY 93

REGISTRY Audun Takan

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP ILG HONG KONG

TOP COPY Q DIST?

CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: PRESS REPORTS

THROUGH TRAIN

1. SCM POST REPORTED TODAY (10 MAY) THAT THE NPC STANDING COMMITTEE MIGHT HAVE TO DRAW UP GUIDELINES ON THE THROUGH TRAIN

ARRANGEMENTS TO REMOVE ANY CONFUSION OVER WHO COULD QUALIFY. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NPC, ZHOU CHENG-KUI, WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THE STANDING COMMITTEE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE RECENT DEBATE IN HONG

KONG ON THE THROUGH TRAIN. HE SAID THAT THE STANDING COMMITTEE WAS EMPOWERED TO GIVE LEGISLATIVE EXPLANATION ON PROVISIONS IN THE BASIC LAW AND THE NPC DECISION. IT WAS POSSIBLE FOR THE

STANDING COMMITTEE TO SPELL OUT SOME DEFINITIONS ON THE THROUGH

TRAIN.

2. ZHOU BELIEVED THE STANDING COMMITTEE WOULD NOT CONSIDER FORMULATING THE THROUGH TRAIN CRITERIA UNTIL THE END OF THE SINO- BRITISH TALKS. HE ADDED THAT IT WAS NOT YET KNOWN WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THE TALKS WOULD BE, HENCE IT WAS A BIT EARLY TO SAY WHETHER THE STANDING COMMITTEE WOULD OFFER A SET OF GUIDELINES TO

DEFINE THE CRITERIA FOR THE THROUGH TRAIN ARRANGEMENTS.

3. ACCORDING TO SCM POST, FORMER BL DRAFTER XU CHONGDE SAID THAT IT WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR THE SAR PREPARATORY COMMITTEE TO

DEFINE WHO COULD RIDE THE THROUGH TRAIN. WHILE IT WAS UP TO THE NPC STANDING COMMITTEE TO DECIDE WHETHER TO OFFER A LEGISLATIVE EXPLANATION OR TO AUTHORISE THE SAR PREPARATORY COMMITTEE TO FORMULATE THE GUIDELINES ACCORDING TO PRACTICAL NEEDS, THE LATTER OPTION WAS IN HIS VIEW PREFERABLE BECAUSE THE PC'S HONG KONG MEMBERS COULD HELP STRENGTHEN CONSULTATION IN HONG KONG ON THE THROUGH TRAIN.

4. ON THE MEANING OF UPHOLDING THE BASIC LAW, XU SAID THAT ANYBODY WHO HAD PUBLICLY DENOUNCED AND ATTACKED THE BASIC LAW AFTER ITS PROMULGATION SHOULD BE REGARDED AS NOT UPHOLDING THE BASIC LAW. LEGISLATORS WHO HAD VOTED FOR THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS SHOULD ALSO BE REGARDED AS NOT UPHOLDING THE BASIC LAW.

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