CONFIDENTIAL
HONG KONG BILL: COMMITTEE STAGE
SPEAKING NOTES
"CLAUSE STAND PART"
CLAUSE ONE
Clause One is the central provision of this Bill.
It provides for the termination of British sovereignty over the ceded parts of Hong Kong and the termination of British
jurisdiction over the whole territory from 1 July 1997.
This clause will enable the Government to me e t
its
obligation under paragraph 2 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.
The clause is designed to come into effect at the same time
as the Joint Declaration. The date of this has not yet been
agreed but paragraph 8 of the Joint Declaration states that
instruments of ratification shall be exchanged before 30
June 1985.
CONFIDENTIAL