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SOVEREIGNTY AND JURISDICTION OVER HONG KONG AS FROM 1 JULY 1997.
I SHALL BRIEFLY DESCRIBE ITS MAIN FEATURES.
12. THE CENTRAL PROVISION OF THE BILL IS CLAUSE ONE. THIS
PROVIDES FOR THE TERMINATION OF BRITISH SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE
CEDED PARTS OF HONG KONG AND THE TERMINATION OF BRITISH
JURISDICTION OVER THE WHOLE TERRITORY WITH EFFECT FROM 1 JULY
1997. THIS SECTION OF THE BILL WILL ENTER INTO FORCE ON THE
EXCHANGE OF INSTRUMENTS OF RATIFICATION.
13. THIS CLAUSE WILL ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO MEET ITS OBLIGATION
UNDER PARAGRAPH TWO OF THE JOINT DECLARATION IN WHICH THE
GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM DECLARES THAT IT WILL RESTORE
HONG KONG TO THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA WITH EFFECT FROM 1
JULY 1997.
14. IN RECENT YEARS IT HAS BECOME THE INVARIABLE PRACTICE WHEN
THE UK DIVESTS ITSELF OF SOVEREIGNTY OVER TERRITORY TO DO SO UPON
THE AUTHORITY OF AN ACT OF PARLIAMENT. THE SITUATION OF HONG
KONG IS OF COURSE SUI GENERIS. IN THIS CASE WE ARE ENTERING INTO
AN AGREEMENT WITH ANOTHER POWER TO TERMINATE SOVEREIGNTY AS FROM
A CERTAIN SPECIFIED DATE. NEVERTHELESS THE NEED FOR
PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY FOR THE TERMINATION OF SOVEREIGNTY
REMAINS THE SAME: IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THIS AUTHORITY SHOULD
EXIST BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT RATIFIES THE AGREEMENT AND THUS
CREATES AN INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATION.
15. THE SCHEDULE TO THE BILL DEALS WITH THREE ASPECTS RELATED TO
THE AGREEMENT AND THE TERMINATION OF SOVEREIGNTY. THEY ARE:
THE CHANGES IN BRITISH NATIONALITY LAWS NECESSARY AS A
CONSEQUENCE OF THE AGREEMENT AND THE ASSOCIATED EXCHANGE OF
MEMORANDA WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.
AMENDMENTS TO BRITISH LAWS IN PREPARATION FOR OR CONSEQUENT
UPON THE TERMINATION OF UK SOVEREIGNTY AND JURISDICTION.
AND THE PROVISION OF DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES TO
THE FIVE CHINESE MEMBERS OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP.
16. I TURN NOW TO NATIONALITY, AND IN THIS CONTEXT I SHALL MENTION THE REASONED AMENDMENT TABLED BY THE RT HON MEMBER FOR
SOUTH DOWN. I MADE PLAIN IN THE HOUSE ON 5 DECEMBER THAT THE
LEGISLATION WE PROPOSED TO INTRODUCE WOULD PROVIDE POWERS TO MAKE
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