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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
My speech today consists of 3 parts:
(1) On the Basic Law vis-a-vis the Sino-British Agreement and the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group.
(2) On education in Hong Kong.
(3) On the Urban Council.
(1) On the Basic Law vis-a-vis the Sino-British Agreement and the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group
After formal signing of the Sino-British Agreement, both the Chinese and the British governments have stepped up their pace to get the Agreement ratified in the Chinese National People's Congress and the British Parliament so that the Agreement will have legally binding force.
In Britain, Parliament will pass the Hong Kong Bill to terminate British sovereignty in Hong Kong. In China, resolutions will be passed in the National People's Congress to take over the sovereignty of Hong Kong and enact legislation to set up the Special Administrative Region in Hong Kong to continue its capitalist system and ways of life which will remain unchanged for 50 years. From now on, the British government will gradually withdraw from and the Chinese government take over Hong Kong which will then be administered by Hong Kong people. Hong Kong will officially enter into the transitional period until 30 June 1997.
It is manifest from the quickened pace adopted by the Chinese and the British governments that both countries are in good harmony which in itself is a great encouragement.
By the signing of the Sino-British Agreement, the question of Hong Kong which is left over from the past is no doubt settled. However, the new era of Hong Kong is in front of us and requires our attention.
Though the majority are satisfied with the Agreement and consider it a good one, some are afraid that the Agreement may be altered while others hope that some of the provisions which are a little ambiguous would be supplemented and clarified. Many are therefore rather concerned about the drafting of the Basic Law.
The Basic Law is of course the very spirit and life of the Sino-British Agreement. It will replace the present Laws of Hong Kong and confers on the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region the administrative powers so as to implement the provisions of the Sino-British Agreement to ensure the prosperity and stability of the territory.
As Hong Kong people attach so much importance to the Basic Law, they are all anxious that China will allow them to be involved in the process of drafting and final enactment of the Basic Law. They hope that they will be consulted through a number of channels, different organizations and social strata, the Area Committees, District Board, Urban and Regional Council members, as well as Legislative and Executive Council members etc. during the stages of drafting, revision, further revision, approval and enactment of the Basic Law.
When the Sino-British Agreement formally takes effect, China and Hong Kong should accord each other with recognition. China should recognize the people of Hong Kong as Chinese nationals and Hong Kong should recognize China as its mother country. There should be concrete actions to foster the relations of mother and child after a separation of over a hundred years and to express mutual warm feelings for each other. The people of Hong Kong should not consider themselves as prodigal children and strangers and should extend their love for Hong Kong to help China in her modernization. On the other hand, China should welcome an estranged child returning to her fold with motherly love and take into account the views of Hong Kong people, inviting those dedicated and talented to join in the drafting of the Basic Law to ensure that the mini-constitution will effectively implement the Sino-British Agreement and maintain Hong Kong's prosperity and stability.
I am of the opinion that 2 committees should be established to deal with the drafting of the Basic Law. One is the Basic Law Drafting Committee, and the other, the Basic Law Consultative Committee.
Under these 2 committees, there may be a number of working parties to deal with different aspects of the assignments.
The provisions of the Basic Law should incorporate all those in the Sino-British Joint Declaration as well as China's basic policies towards Hong Kong. They should include:
(1) The different departments and organization of the Hong Kong government.
(2) The system of government in Hong Kong.
(3) The laws of Hong Kong.
(4) The judicial system of Hong Kong and the power of final adjudication. (5) The fiscal, economic and financial systems of Hong Kong.
(6) Education and culture in Hong Kong.
(7) The rights and freedoms of the person in Hong Kong. (8) Social welfare in Hong Kong.
(9) The religious organizations and beliefs in Hong Kong. (10) The land policies in Hong Kong.
(11) Nationality as well as documents in respect of entry into and exit from Hong Kong.
It is hoped that China will appoint Hong Kong representatives to serve on the Basic Law Drafting Committee and the Basic Law Consultative Committee to directly take part in the work of the 2 Committees.
Page 193 of 233
347
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 194 of 233
Page 193 of 233
346
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
My speech today consists of 3 parts:
(1) On the Basic Law vis-a-vis the Sino-British Agreement and the Sino-
British Joint Liaison Group.
(2) On education in Hong Kong.
(3) On the Urban Council.
(1) On the Basic Law vis-a-vis the Sino-British Agreement and the Sino-British
Joint Liaison Group
After formal signing of the Sino-British Agreement, both the Chinese and the British governments have stepped up their pace to get the Agreement ratified in the Chinese National People's Congress and the British Parliament so that the Agreement will have legally binding force.
In Britain, Parliament will pass the Hong Kong Bill to terminate British sovereignty in Hong Kong. In China, resolutions will be passed in the National People's Congress to take over the sovereignty of Hong Kong and enact legislation to set up the Special Administrative Region in Hong Kong to continue its capitalist system and ways of life which will remain unchanged for 50 years. From now on, the British government will gradually withdraw from and the Chinese government take over Hong Kong which will then be administered by Hong Kong people. Hong Kong will officially enter into the transitional period until 30 June 1997.
It is manifest from the quickened pace adopted by the Chinese and the British governments that both countries are in good harmony which in itself is a great encouragement.
By the signing of the Sino-British Agreement, the question of Hong Kong which is left over from the past is no doubt settled. However, the new era of Hong Kong is in front of us and requires our attention.
Though the majority are satisfied with the Agreement and consider it a good one, some are afraid that the Agreement may be altered while others hope that some of the provisions which are a little ambiguous would be supplemented and clarified. Many are therefore rather concerned about the drafting of the Basic Law.
The Basic Law is of course the very spirit and life of the Sino-British Agreement. It will replace the present Laws of Hong Kong and confers on the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region the administra- tive powers so as to implement the provisions of the Sino-British Agreement to ensure the prosperity and stability of the territory.
As Hong Kong people attach so much importance to the Basic Law, they are all anxious that China will allow them to be involved in the process of drafting and final enactment of the Basic Law. They hope that they will be consulted through a number of channels, different organizations and social strata, the Area Committees, District Board, Urban and Regional Council members, as
well as
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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347
Legislative and Executive Council members etc. during the stages of drafting, revision, further revision, approval and enactment of the Basic Law.
When the Sino-British Agreement formally takes effect, China and Hong Kong should accord each other with recognition. China should recognize the people of Hong Kong as Chinese nationals and Hong Kong should recognize China as its mother country. There should be concrete actions to foster the relations of mother and child after a separation of over a hundred years and to express mutual warm feelings for each other. The people of Hong Kong should not consider themselves as prodigal children and strangers and should extend their love for Hong Kong to help China in her modernization. On the other hand, China should welcome an estranged child returning to her fold with motherly love and take into account the views of Hong Kong people, inviting those dedicated and talented to join in the drafting of the Basic Law to ensure that the mini-constitution will effectively implement the Sino-British Agreement and maintain Hong Kong's prosperity and stability.
I am of the opinion that 2 committees should be established to deal with the drafting of the Basic Law. One is the Basic Law Drafting Committee, and the other, the Basic Law Consultative Committee.
Under these 2 committees, there may be a number of working parties to deal with different aspects of the assignments.
The provisions of the Basic Law should incorporate all those in the Sino- British Joint Declaration as well as China's basic policies towards Hong Kong. They should include:
(1) The different departments and organization of the Hong Kong
government.
(2) The system of government in Hong Kong.
(3) The laws of Hong Kong.
(4) The judicial system of Hong Kong and the power of final adjudication. (5) The fisical, economic and financial systems of Hong Kong.
(6) Education and culture in Hong Kong.
(7) The rights and freedoms of the person in Hong Kong. (8) Social welfare in Hong Kong.
(9) The religious organizations and beliefs in Hong Kong. (10) The land policies in Hong Kong.
(11) Nationality as well as documents in respect of entry into and exit from
Hong Kong.
It is hoped that China will appoint Hong Kong representatives to serve on the Basic Law Drafting Committee and the Basic Law Consultative Committee to directly take part in the work of the 2 Committees.
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