CONFIDENTIAL
(c) TERMINATION OF SOVEREIGNTY
[If it is
it is suggested that we should not legislate for an event 12 years in the future]
wrong
to
of A number
hon Members have suggested that it is legislate in this Bill for the termination of sovereignty which will not take place for another 12 years.
we
agree
to
China
on
1
However, it is absolutely necessary to legislate on this point before we ratify the agreement. In paragraph 2 of the Joint
Declaration
Republic of
restore
Hon Kong
July 1997. We
the
obligation
to
enter into force without securing
legislation needed
to
allow cannot
first
People's
that
the
the This is
to be agreement. An agreement which has been found to the people of Hong Kong and to this House.
to implement it.
core of the
acceptable
obligation to
carry
out
a
of
The Government cannot ratify the agreement, and thus create
formal international
the transfer
legislative
course would
authority, until Parliament has approved the
instrument
on
the transfer.
unconstitutional.
Any other
be
CONFIDENTIAL