This is an edited version of the speech, entitled 'Hong Kong 1996: The Most Crucial Year in Transition', delivered by Preliminary Working Committee member Sir Sze-yuen Chung on Tuesday.
AS you will recall, Sino-British relations turned sour in 1992. This is because the British Government nullified its initial understanding made in early 1990 with the Chinese Government through a series of exchange of letters. The understanding was on the 'through-train' arrangement in 1997 for members of the legislature elected in 1995.
In reacting to this sudden change, the Chinese Government appointed a Preliminary Working Committee in 1993. This committee, generally known as PWC in short, is chaired by the Chinese Foreign Minister. Its terms of reference are to advise the Chinese Government on affairs related to the transfer of Hong Kong's sovereignty.
Preparatory Committee for the Hong Kong SAR During its last plenary meeting in June this year, the PWC made three recommendations to the Chinese Government relating to the Preparatory Committee for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR). This Preparatory Committee, as stipulated in the Basic Law, is to be responsible for preparing the establishment of the Hong Kong SAR.
The PWC recommended that the Preparatory Committee should be formed in January 1996. It also recommended that the Preparatory Committee should consist of 120 to 150 members with more than half from Hong Kong. The third recommendation was that the Preparatory Committee should establish offices both in Beijing and Hong Kong.
It is expected that the Chinese Government would accept the recommendations of the Preliminary Working Committee and establish the Preparatory Committee in January 1996. The current speculation is that it would consist of about 150 members with approximately 90 from Hong Kong.
Selection Committee for the first Chief Executive of the SAR One of the first tasks of the Preparatory Committee is to form the Selection Committee. The function of the Selection Committee is to recommend to the Chinese Government the candidate for the first Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR. In accordance with the Decision of the National People's Congress (NPC) on April 4, 1990, this Selection Committee shall compose of 400 permanent residents of Hong Kong, made up from the following four equal segments: 1. The industrial, commercial and financial segment; 2. The professionals segment including doctors, engineers, lawyers, accountants; 3. The labour, grassroots and religious segment; and 4. The political segment.