Independence

Timetable

The June meeting of the PNG House of Assembly will be asked to ratify the following constitutional timetable, which was agreed to by the PNG and Australian govern ments in Port Moresby in May; December, 1973: Formal self government will be introduced by amendments to the Papua New Guinea Act passed by the Australian Parliament.

February, 1974: Final report and draft constitution of the Constitu tional Planning Committee to be tabled in the House of Assembly.

The constitution will include pro visions for the transition from self government to independence.

April, 1974: House of Assembly in special session to consider and adopt the constitution. The bill will be reserved for assent by the Australian Governor-General.

May, 1974: Australian Parliament will remove from the Papua New Guinea Act those parts which have been in cluded in the PNG constitution as adopted by the House of Assembly.

The Governor-General will assent to these changes and to the PNG con stitution.