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arrangements which will apply to members of HMOCS serving in Hong
Kong to payment of their pensions by the Hong Kong Government after 1 July 1997.
Will Hong Kong Unofficial sit on Joint Liaison Group?
16. Hong Kong Government officials will sit on the Group and we
shall consult fully with the Unofficials about the work of the
Group. It is however a diplomatic body as Annex II to the agreement makes clear, and it would not be appropriate for Unofficials to sit
on it.
Will Governor be member of Joint Liaison Group?
17. Precise membership of the Group has not yet been decided.
Agreement for date 13 years in future unreal?
18.
The agreement is of course a unique one. Dealing with a known
time limit fixed by duration of New Territories lease. Essential
that arrangements for future should be settled and known well in advance. Important to establish climate of stability in Hong Kong in which people of Hong Kong can plan ahead.
Chinese constitution to apply to Hong Kong after 1997? Possible conflict between Basic Law/Chinese constitution?
19. We expect Basic law to make clear which provisions of Chinese
constitution apply to Hong Kong. Cannot conceive that the Basic Law
will conflict with the Chinese constitution. The Chinese will be
drafting the Basic Law and will ensure that it does not conflict.
Agreement makes absolutely clear that socialist system and policies practised on mainland will not be practised in Hong Kong after 1997.
Responsibility for interpretation of Basic Law?
20. The Basic Law will be one of the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The Courts of the SAR must decide cases in
accordance with those laws. Powers of final adjudication will be
vested in those courts. The agreement does not however say which court of the SAR is to have the final responsibility for the
interpretation and application of the Basic Law. Key point is the Basic Law will embody Chinese policies for Hong Kong set out in
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