CONFIDENTIAL
6423
1
SOCIAL AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES PROPOSED BY THE HKG, REFUGEES
AND SECURITY.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION
II.
(A)
JOINT DECLARATION
4.
AFTER TWO YEARS OF NEGOTIATIONS A DRAFT AGREEMENT ON HONG KONG WAS INITIALLED BY THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS ON 26 SEPTEMBER 1985. THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WERE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON THE DRAFT AGREEMENT, AND AN ASSESSMENT OFFICE WAS ESTABLISHED TO COLLATE, ANALYSE AND ASSESS THESE VIEWS. THE OFFICE REPORTED IN NOVEMBER 1984. THAT MOST OF
THEIR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG FOUND THE AGREEMENT ACCEPTABLE. FINDINGS WERE CONFIRMED BY AN INDEPENDENT TEAM OF MONITORS (CMND 9407 (1984)). PARLIAMENT DEBATED THE AGREEMENT IN LIGHT OF THESE VIEWS AND APPROVED HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO SIGN
IT.
5. ON 19 DECEMBER 1985 THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE CHINESE PREMIER SIGNED THE JOINT DECLARATION IN PEKING. ONCE THE HONG KONG ACT 1985 GIVING DOMESTIC LEGISLATIVE EFFECT TO THE TERMS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION HAD BEEN PASSED BY PARLIAMENT, THE JOINT DECLARATION WAS RATIFIED ON 27 MAY 1985, AND ENTERED INTO FORCE IMMEDIATELY. IT WAS REGISTERED BY BOTH THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS AT THE UNITED NATIONS ON 12 JUNE 1985.
6. UNDER THE TERMS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT DECLARES THAT IT WILL RESTORE HONG KONG TO THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA WITH EFFECT FROM 1 JULY 1997, AND THE TWO GOVERNMENTS DECLARE THAT HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG UP TO THAT DATE. BOTH GOVERNMENTS ARE COMMITTED TO THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
JOINT DECLARATION AND ITS ANNEXES.
(B) BASIC LAW
7. UNDER PARAGRAPH 3(12) OF THE JOINT DECLARATION THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA UNDERTAKES TO STIPULATE ITS POLICIES REGARDING HONG KONG, WHICH ARE SET OUT IN PARAGRAPH 3 OF THE JOINT DECLARATION AND ELABORATED IN ITS ANNEX
I, IN A BASIC LAW FOR THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION, WHICH WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED FOR 50 YEARS. THE DRAFTING
2
CONFIDENTIAL
OF.
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