TNAG-2991-FCO40-3566-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1992 — Page 202

CHINESE LANGUAGE DIVISION

other than new wine in old bottles.

317 P03

Similar suggestions have been made by people wishing for a smooth

transition. They have basically failed to understand the fact

that the existing Hong Kong Government and the Hong Kong

Government to be installed after 1997 have similarity as well as

significant dissimilarity.

The similarity is of course that both governments will be known

as Hong Kong Government, with both a Legislative Council and an

Executive Council, whose members will also be known 48

Legislative and Executive Councillors. To make for smooth

transition, the number of seats will remain to be 60 before and

after 1997. Civil servants will continue to be employed under

the same conditions of service.

Dissimilarity

Major dissimilarities between the Government before and that

after 1997 are as follows:

1. The Hong Kong Government will reamin answerable to the rulers

of Britain until 1997. The Government of Hong Kong SAR will

(or will be espiombu to I

after 1997 answer to the Chinese Government.

(Not JDIBL.)

Through

train?

2. The present Legislative Council will be different from the

Legislative Council after 1997. The latter will be set up in

accordance with the Basic Law and the legislations will be

2