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CONFIDENTIAL
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
Telephone 01233 4381
RJT McLaren CMG
Political Adviser HONG KONG
Your reference
Our reference
Date
21 December 1984
&
Dear Robin,
JOINT LIAISON GROUP
1.
When the Governor was in London at the beginning of December he discussed with us the first draft of a paper which we had written on our approach to the Joint Liaison Group. I now enclose a redrafted version of that paper, which also takes into account discussion with David Wilson. He asked me to send it to you and seek your comments.
2. As you will see, the paper is a very preliminary approach to the problems raised by our participation in the Joint Liaison Group, and will naturally need to be supplemented by more detailed studies. There are a number of gaps which it would be helpful if you could fill. We look forward to receiving your comments and contributions, preferably in the form of drafting language. Our aim is to submit an agreed paper
an agreed paper to Ministers in the New Year.
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FUTURE OF HONG KONG: SINO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP
INTRODUCTION
1. The purpose of this paper is to consider:
(i) what our objectives should be, and what will be the likely
Chinese objectives, in relation to the work of the Joint
Liaison Group;
(ii) what pattern of participation and work would best assist us
achieve our objectives.
2.
Annex II to the Joint Declaration sets our the agreed shape and
functions of the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group. The relevant
provisions are the following:
(a) It will be established when the agreement enters into force
before 30 June 1985. It will meet in Peking, London and Hong
Kong, at least once in each location each year. Until 1 July
1988 it will be entirely peripatetic: thereafter it will have
its principal base in Hong Kong.
(b)
(c)
The Joint Liaison Group will have on each side a senior
representative of Ambassadorial rank and four other members of
the group.
Each side may send up to 20 supporting staff.
It
set up specialist sub-groups by agreement. Experts other
than the members of the Joint Liaison Group can attend meetings
of the Joint Liaison Group and sub-groups.
Each side may
determine the composition of its own delegation. Proceedings
will remain confidential. Working procedures will be decided
by the two sides.
The functions of the Joint Liaison Group are:
(i) to conduct consultations on the implementation of the
Joint Declaration.
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(ii) to discuss matters relating to the smooth transfer of
government in 1997.
(d)
(iii) to exchange information and conduct consultations
subjects as may be agreed by the two sides.
in the first half of the period up to 1 July 1997 matters for
consideration will include:
(e)
(i) action to be taken by the two Governments to enable the
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to maintain its
economic relations as a separate customs territory, and
in particular to ensure the maintenance of Hong Kong's
participation in the General Agreement on Tariffs and
Trade, the Multifibre Arrangement and other international
arrangements; and
(ii) action to be taken by the two Governments to ensure the
continued application of international rights and
obligations affecting Hong Kong.
in the second half of the period up to 1 July 1997 matters for
consideration will include:
(i) procedures to be adopted for the smooth transition in
1997;
(ii) action to assist the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region to maintain and develop economic and cultural
relations and conclude agreements on these matters with
states, regions and relevant international organisations.
BRITISH AIMS
3.
A basic question is what should be our fundamental approach to the Group. In the negotiations we adopted a defensive posture, designed to limit the field of activity and influence of the Group.
The initial attitude in Hong Kong to the Group was one of extreme
suspicion. However the public perception of the Group has already
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