of Hong Kong. It was therefore decided that consultations were to be fully resumed as from that date. Meanwhile, the CCBL was informed by the Drafting Committee that the consultation period for the Basic Law (Draft) was extended to the end of October upon the approval of the chairmen's meeting of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and the CCBL was asked to submit the consultation report before the end of November.
9. After the consultation exercise had fully resumed, the six special groups of the CCBL and their coordinating groups held a series of meetings to discuss their future work. Existing problems were also raised for the reference of Executive Committee members when revising their work plan.
10. Soon after the visit of the CCBL Chairman, Vice Chairmen and Secretary-General to Beijing on 10 July, a delegation comprising nine Executive Committee members went to Beijing on 16 and 17 August to discuss with representatives of the Drafting Committee the coordination between the two committees, including such issues as whether the promulgation of the Basic Law should be postponed, visits of mainland drafters to Hong Kong, delegations of CCBL members and members of various sectors to Beijing, key issues for consultation, and the future arrangement for submitting the consultation report. The Executive Committee members also conveyed to the parties concerned the anxiety of people in Hong Kong about the future of Hong Kong after the Beijing incident.
11. With respect to the above-mentioned issues, members of the Executive Committee delegation not only stated their own views, but also conveyed different views of other CCBL members and the public opinion. On the proposed postponement of the promulgation of the Basic Law. the representatives of the Drafting Committee seriously considered the various possibilities, including the possibility of empowering the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress to examine and promulgate the Basic Law on behalf of the National People's Congress, and the specific difficulties in calling an extraordinary session of the National People's Congress. The Drafting Committee reached the following conclusion: Provided that the Drafting Committee and the CCBL work closely together and the meetings of the Drafting Committee be rescheduled, the consultation exercise would not be affected.
Ways of Collecting Opinions
12. During the consultation period, promotional trailers of the CCBL were broadcast regularly on television and radio, and advertisements were placed on major newspapers to
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