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II TO THE JOINT DECLARATION, WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE CREATION OF A JOINT LIAISON GROUP OF FIVE BRITISH AND FIVE CHINESE MEMBERS TO MEET IN LONDON, PEKING AND HONG KONG. THE ANNEX PROVIDES THAT MEMBERS OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP WILL ENJOY DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES AS APPROPRIATE WHEN THE GROUP MEETS IN THE THREE LOCATIONS. EXISTING LEGISLATION WOULD NOT COVER THIS RATHER UNUSUAL CATEGORY OF PERSON, AND IT IS THEREFORE NECESSARY TO LEGISLATE SPECIFICALLY. HONG KONG WILL NEED TO LEGISLATE SEPARATELY TO PROVIDE PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES IN HONG KONG FOR THE CHINESE MEMBERS OF THE GROUP UNTIL 1997 AND FOR THE BRITISH MEMBERS THEREAFTER. WE EXPECT THE CHINESE TO PROVIDE SIMILAR PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES TO THE BRITISH MEMBERS WHEN THE GROUP MEETS IN PEKING.
26. MR SPEAKER, I SHOULD LIKE TO TURN BRIEFLY BEFORE CONCLUDING TO THE FUTURE. THE SIGNATURE OF THE AGREEMENT, AND I HOPE
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THE PASSAGE OF THIS BILL, LEADING TO RATIFICATION OF THE AGREEMENT, REPRESENT THE BEGINNING NOT THE END OF A PROCESS. THERE IS MUCH TO DO BETWEEN NOW AND 1997. IT WILL REQUIRE THE CLOSEST COOPERATION BETWEEN OURSELVES AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, AND OF COURSE THE CLOSEST CONSULTATION THROUGHOUT WITH THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
27. SUCH CONSULTATION WILL I HOPE BE FACILITATED BY A PROGRESSIVE STRENGTHENING OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMMENT IN HONG KONG OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS. AS THE HOUSE KNOWS, THE FIRST ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL TAKE PLACE IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR, AND THERE WILL BE A FURTHER PUBLIC REVIEW OF THE ELECTORAL PROCESS AND CONSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE IN TWO YEARS' TIME. WE SHALL OF COURSE BE PREPARING FOR THIS REVIEW IN THE MEANTIME, AND A GREAT DEAL OF PREPARATORY WORK AND DISCUSSION WILL TAKE PLACE. 28. THE MOST IMMEDIATE TASK WILL BE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP PROVIDED FOR IN THE AGREEMENT. WE ARE NOW ACTIVELY WORKING ON THIS: THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG IS IN LONDON THIS WEEK, AND MY DISCUSSIONS WITH HIM WILL INCLUDE THIS IMPORTANT SUBJECT. WE SHALL ALSO THEREAFTER NEED TO DISCUSS PRACTICALITIES FURTHER WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. I SHALL INFORM THE HOUSE IN DUE COURSE OF PROGRESS ON THIS ISSUE.
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