TNAG-2788-FCO40-4027-Chinese-policy-on-Hong-Kong-an-overview-1993 — Page 24

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established before 1996 and that an organisation such as

that which "friends" in Hong Kong had suggested might be

ĕstablishsed before 1997 could not be a separate power centre. Its main purpose would be to prepare for a smooth

transition in 1997. He added that it should not affect the

standing of HKG, since the JD provided that the British were responsible for adminstration up to 1997 and the organisation would certainly not interfere in day to day

administrative affairs (TKP 4 Jan 1993).

E2.

Lu Ping said that the situation would be very

serious if LegCo passed the Governor's political reforms.

If he insisted on going his own way, it would be difficult to maintain Hong Kong's stability; to avoid chaos China

would need to set up its own kitchen in accordance with the Basic Law (quoted by Xu Simin and Cheng Kai-nam, Hong Kong

press 6 February 1993).

E3.

Lu said that the Preparatory Work Committee would do work concerned with the post-1997 SARG and legislature

and not concerned with affairs before 1997; it would not be

a second power centre (CNS 21 April 1993).

E4.

Lu Ping said that the Preparatory Work Committee

would not infringe on British rule before 1997, and it

would not be a power group (Window 2 July 1993).

E5.

Qian Qichen outlined the main tasks of the PWC:. to

study and give advice on issues relating to the establisment of the Preparatory Committee [in 1996] to

study future work to be undertaken by the Preparatory

Committee, in particular the method of formation of the

first SARG legislature; to publicise the Basic Law; to

advise on the handling of Hong Kong laws which are in

breach of the Basic Law; to advise on major issues