THE major duties of the Preparatory Committee, to be formed in January to prepare for the setting up of the Special Administrative Region (SAR), have been laid down by a Preliminary Working Committee sub-group.
They include the power to set up the controversial provisional legislature - because China will disband the elected legislature - and Court of Final Appeal after 1997.
The political sub-group for the first time clearly defined the committee's duties at a meeting of more than 100 of China's local advisers yesterday.
The committee is to: Prepare for formation of the first government, including the selection of the chief executive and the first Executive Council, formation of executive and advisory organs and arrangements for the continued service of civil servants; Establish the first Legislative Council, supervise its election and put in place the provisional Legislative Council; Deal with the vacuum until the first district organisations are in place; Arrange the judicial structure of the SAR, including the Court of Final Appeal, and the continuous appointment of the judicial staff and judges; Suggest measures to assure the smooth transition of Hong Kong's economic, financial, social, educational and cultural policy; Handle legal problems related to the transition, including those infringing the Basic Law; Prepare the ceremony for the setting up of the SAR; Handle other issues in relation to the establishment of the SAR.
Sub-group member Professor Lau Siu-kai said the list of the committee's tasks 'was endless'. It had full authorisation from the National People Congress' Standing Committee to handle all work needed for the SAR's establishment.
The establishment of the Basic Law Committee and the handover of files and assets were on the list of duties, he said. The next step for the sub-group was to study the running format and internal structure of the committee, he said.