BACKGROUND
1.
The Hong Kong Agreement (for use freely)
The Sino-British Joint Declaration
on the future of
Hong Kong was signed by the Prime Minister and the Chinese
Premier, Zhao Ziyang, on 19 December 1984 in Peking. The
agreement has been widely welcomed by the international
community.
2. The agreement was ratified
on 27 May 1985 and entered
registered at the United
into force on that date. I t was
Nations by Britain and China on 12 June 1985.
3.
Britain believes that the agreement provides the best
possible framework for the continuing stability and
prosperity of Hong Kong up to and after 1 July 1997, when
Hong Kong will become a Special Administrative Region (SAR)
of the People's Republic of China. As such, it will enjoy
a high degree of autonomy, and will be able to maintain its
unique economic system and way of life for 50 years after
1997.
Joint
4.
Liaison
Group
(for
use
freely)
In accordance with Annex II to the Joint Declaration, a
Sino-British Joint Liaison Group (JLG) has been established
to continue liaison and consultation and
information between the British and Chinese sides until the
the exchange of
year 2000. It will meet in Peking, London and Hong Kong,
at least once in each place every year and, from 1 July 1988, will be based principally in Hong Kong. The first meeting of the JLG took place in London between 22 and 25
July 1985, and made a good start. The next meeting will be
held in November in Peking.
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