From: leung@DSG.Tandem.COM (Steven Leung)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.hongkong
Subject: Beijing's Bottom Line on HK {Repost from CND]
Date: 6 Apr 92 20:30:48 GMT
Article-I.D.: dsg.1992Apr6.203048.14134
Organization: Tandem Computers


           *  *  *   C h i n a   N e w s   D i g e s t   *  *  *

                               (News Global)

                          Sunday, April 5, 1992

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3. Beijing's Bottom Line on Hong Kong ................................. 71
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From:   Tina Tong <changb@acf3.NYU.EDU>
Source: BBC-Cheng Ming 4/3/92
By:     Lin Wu

As 1997 approaches, contradictions between China and Britain are also
growing more intense, with communist China playing a predominant role in
these contradictions. Even now, it is already interfering in many aspects
of Hong Kong affairs, and can be expected to exercise "supreme leadership
of the party" after 1997. To seize the initiative firmly, an eight-point
"non-negotiable bottomline" was drawn up at a recently-concluded working
meeting of the Office of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs. This will also serve
as the basic policy, as well as the norm in the handling of Hong Kong
affairs by the Chinese government, the Office of Hong Kong and Macao
Affairs, and the Xinhua news agency Hong Kong branch.

(1) Both China and Britain should comply fully with the Sino-British Joint
    Statement which cannot be amended or distorted unilaterally. The policy
    of one country, two systems and of Hong Kong ruled by Hong Kong people
    will remain unchanged for 50 years and even 100 years.

(2) The Basic Law adopted by the NPC may not be amended. China will not
    accept any motion to amend or revise the features of the Basic Law
    before 1997.

(3) Agreements reached by China and Britain regarding 1997-related affairs
    in Hong Kong, its economic development, and political changes may not
    be amended or revised unilaterally.

(4) No changes may be carried out to the working political structure of the
    Hong Kong government which is predominantly administrative in nature.
    The Chinese government asks the British government to make this promise
    before 1997.

(5) No consideration will be made of recognizing the Hong Kong Legislative
    Council as a body before 1995, and there is also no question of estab-
    lishing ties with it as a body.

(6) Directly-elected legislators in 1995 should comply with the relevant
    conditions spelled out in the Basic Law in order to qualify for the
    first legislative body of the Special Administrative Region [SAR] in
    1997. There is no question of "temporary suspension" or "compromise"
    on matters which are not consistent with the Basic Law.

(7) Provisions, regulations and issues which are inconsistent with, con-
    tradict and violate the Basic Law will have to be corrected one by one
    and redefined by the SAR government after 1997.

(8) Policies and guidelines on the transition period as well as relating to
    internal and external affairs of the SAR government in 1997 are consen-
    sus obtained through consultations, discussions and exchange of views
    between the Chinese and British governments. Intervention by foreign
    governments, foreign political organizations or politicians is absolute-
    ly intolerable.

Eight-Point Principle Discussed By CCP Political Bureau

According to news from Beijing, this eight-point "big principle" was aff-
irmed following discussion by the CCP Political Bureau. Judging from the
"sparrings" between certain communist Chinese officials and the Hong Kong
British government, it does appear that the former enjoy strong backing. It
should be admitted that the communist Chinese are pretty skillful in play-
ing political games. Even though certain conservative provisions in the
Basic Law are no longer applicable to the practical conditions of Hong Kong
society, Beijing maintains a rigid hardline stance and would not consider
any negotiations for fear of losing control. In particular, the section on
the political structure as spelled out in the Basic Law was carefully
designed by the communist Chinese in order to "put the Hong Kong liberals
in their place". Furthermore, it is interesting to note the aforementioned
item No 7 which states that the future SAR government has the right to
correct and redefine anything which "is inconsistent and contradicts the
Basic Law". This is alarming because it means that the controversial
amendment of the Human Rights Act, the Confidentiality Act, and the Act on
the Excessive Power of Police may well become null and void after 1997!

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Newsgroups: soc.culture.hongkong