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THROUGH MEETINGS WITH HONG KONG DELEGATIONS VISITING THE UNITED
KINGDOM.
INTRODUCTION TO THE AGREEMENT
19. THE FULL TEXT OF THE DRAFT AGREEMENT IS INCLUDED AS PART TWO
OF THIS WHITE PAPER. IT CONSISTS OF A JOINT DECLARATION
INCLUDING THREE ANNEXES.
EACH PART OF THE AGREEMENT HAS THE SAME
STATUS. THE WHOLE MAKES UP A INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT, LEGALLY
BINDING IN ALL ITS PARTS, AN INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT OF THIS
KIND IS THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE FORM OF BILATERAL COMMITMENT BETWEEN
SOVEREIGN STATES.
20.
THE JOINT DECLARATION CONSISTS IN PART OF LINKED
DECLARATIONS BY HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT AND THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT. IN PARAGRAPH ONE THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT DECLARE THAT
THEY WILL RESUME THE EXERCISE OF SOVEREIGNTY OVER HONG KONG ON 1
JULY 1997. IN PARAGRAPH TWO HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT DECLARES
THAT IT WILL RESTORE HONG KONG TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT FROM
THAT DATE. IN PARAGRAPH THREE THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT SETS OUT
ITS POLICIES TOWARDS HONG KONG AFTER 1997. IN PARAGRAPH FOUR THE
TWO GOVERNMENTS JOINTLY DECLARE THAT HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
WILL REMAIN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG UP TO
1997. PARAGRAPHS FIVE AND SIX DEAL WITH THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP
AND LAND. PARAGRAPH SEVEN CONSTITUTES THE IMPORTANT LINK BETWEEN
THE DECLARATIONS BY THE TWO PARTIES: IT HAS THE EFFECT OF MAKING
THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE ANNEXES TO IT LEGALLY BINDING IN
THEIR ENTIRETY ON THE TWO GOVERNMENTS. PARAGRAPH EIGHT PROVIDES
FOR THE AGREEMENT TO ENTER INTO FORCE ON RATIFICATION.
RATIFICATION WILL TAKE PLACE ON 30 JUNE 1985.
21. THE AGREEMENT SETS OUT CLEARLY THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE
PROVISIONS WHICH IT CONTAINS AND THE FUTURE BASIC LAW OF THE
HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION, TO BE PROMULGATED BY THE
NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.
PARAGRAPH 3(12) OF THE JOINT DECLARATION PROVIDES THAT THE BASIC
POLICIES IN THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE ELABORATION OF THEM IN
ANNEX I WILL BE STIPULATED IN THE BASIC LAW. THEY WILL REMAIN
UNCHANGED FOR 50 YEARS.
22.
ANNEX ONE CONTAINS AN ELABORATION OF CHINESE POLICIES FOR
8
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/THE HONG