Progress Made in Meeting the Public by the Constitutional Development Task Force
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Legislative Council Panel on Constitutional Affairs
Progress Made in Meeting the Public
by the Constitutional Development Task Force
Introduction
This paper informs the Legislative Council Panel on Constitutional Affairs of the progress of the Constitutional Development Task Force (“Task Force”) in meeting the public and listening to their views on issues of principles and legislative process of the Basic Law relating to constitutional development.
Background
2. The Chief Executive announced in his Policy Address the establishment of the Task Force headed by the Chief Secretary for Administration, with the Secretary for Justice and the Secretary for Constitutional Affairs as members. The Task Force will consult the relevant departments of the Central Authorities and listen to views of the public on the relevant issues.
3. In the paper submitted to this Panel on 14 January 2004 (No. CB(2)1003/03-04(01)), it was noted that the Task Force would start to invite a number of parties for meetings, including Members of the Legislative Council, political parties, Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of District Councils, the legal sector, the academia, political bodies, chambers of commerce and other
organizations. The Task Force started its first meeting with different sectors of the public on 16 January 2004. An account of the meetings is provided below.
Meeting with different sectors of the community
4. As of 27 January 2004, the Task Force has met a total of eight different groups and individuals and the date of meeting are shown in brackets as follows -
(a) Democratic Party (16.1.2004);
(b) Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong (17.1.2004);
(c) Professor Albert Chen, University of Hong Kong (17.1.2004);
(d) Article 45 Concern Group (19.1.2004);
(e) The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (20.1.2004);
(f) Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of District Councils (20.1.2004);
(g) The Hong Kong Progressive Alliance (21.1.2004); and
(h) One Country Two Systems Research Institute (27.1.2004).
At the meetings, the Task Force listened to views from the respective organisations and individuals on issues relating to principles and legislative process as set out in the Panel paper. In addition, three written submissions have been received and are attached at Annex A for
Members’ information. Some other groups have indicated that they would provide submissions to the Task Force in due course.
Way Forward
5. The Task Force will continue to listen to views from the public on the relevant issues. Meetings are being arranged with the following groups in the coming week or so: LegCo members, political parties, political groups, trade unions, and chambers of commerce. The Task Force aims at maintaining maximum transparency, but we also respect the wishes of certain groups and
individuals which/who prefer to have discreet meetings with the Task Force and in those circumstances, meetings between them and the Task Force would not be publicized. Reports will continue to be made to this Panel from time to time to keep Members informed of progress.
Constitutional Development Task Force Secretariat
Constitutional Affairs Bureau
January 2004
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