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INTRODUCTION TO THE AGREEMENT
18.
The full text of the draft agreement is included as Part Two of
this White Paper. It consists of a joint declaration and three
annexes. Each part
of the agreement has the same status. The whole
makes up a formal international agreement or treaty, legally binding
As such it will be registered by the British
in all its parts.
Government at
the United Nations in accordance with its obligations
under Article 102 of the United Nations Charter. This is the
highest and most solemn possible form of commitment between
sovereign states.
19. The Joint Declaration consists in part of linked declarations
by the British and Chinese Governments. Paragraph 6 constitutes the
formal link between the declarations by the two parties; together.
with paragraph 7 it has the effect of making the joint declaration
and the annexes to it legally binding on the two governments in
their entirety If the agreement is approved by Parliament it will
be signed and will enter into force on ratification. This last step
will be taken after the necessary legislation has been enacted.
20. Annex one contai ns an elaboration of Chinese policies for the
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, drafted in response to
the working papers presented by the British side in the course of
the negotiations. The annex deals in detail with the way Hong Kong
will run after 1 July 1997, and describes the extent of the autonomy
and continuity which will prevail then. It covers:
constitutional arrangements and government structure;
(a)
(b)
the legal system;
(c)
the public service;
(d) the financial system;
external economic relations;
(e)
the economic system;
(f)
(g)
the monetary system;
(h)
shipping;
(i)
civil aviation;
(j) culture and education;
(k)
external relations;
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