Preparatory Committee

The Preparatory Committee was formally set up on January 26, 1996, in
accordance with a decision of the NPC on April 4, 1990. It comprised
150 members - 94 from Hong Kong and 56 from the Mainland - who
were appointed by the Standing Committee of the NPC.

The establishment of the Preparatory Committee was preceded by the
setting up of the Preliminary Working Committee (PWC) on July 16,
1993. The PWC was an advisory body with its 69 Members drawn from
Hong Kong and the Mainland. Five sub-groups were set up under the
PWC - the Political, Economic, Legal, Social and Security and Cultural
Sub-groups. The PWC held six plenary sessions and a number of
meetings and seminars were also conducted by the sub-groups. The last
plenary session was held in December 1995. The PWC had successfully
completed a huge amount of ground work which contributed significantly
to the smooth operation of the Preparatory Committee.

The Preparatory Committee was responsible for preparing for the
establishment of the HKSAR, including the prescription of the method for
the formation of the first government and the first Legislative Council of
the HKSAR. It was also responsible for preparing the establishment of a
400-member Selection Committee, which in turn was responsible for the
selection of the first Chief Executive of the HKSAR.

The Preparatory Committee was chaired by Vice Premier Qian, who was
assisted by nine vice-chairmen. It had seven sub-groups dealing with the
Selection Committee; the first Chief Executive; the Provisional Legislative
Council; legal matters; economic affairs; celebration activities; and the
first HKSAR Legislative Council.

At the Fifth Session of the Eighth NPC, held on March 10, 1997, Mr Qian
presented a report on the committee's work. On March 14, 1997, the
NPC passed a resolution approving the report. Having served its function,
the Preparatory Committee was disbanded on July 11, 1997.

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