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ABODE IN HONG KONG. THIS IS CRUCIAL TO ITS INTERNATIONAL ACCEPT- ABILITY. NEW TYPES OF IDENTITY CARD FOR BOTH PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY PESIDENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM 1 JULY 1997 AND MAY CONTINUE TO BE USED UNTIL THEY ARE REPLACED BY CARDS ISSUED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION AFTER 1997.
THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS HAVE ALSO AGREED THAT CERTIFICATES OF IDENTITY ISSUED UP TO 1997 WILL CONTINUE TO BE VALID FOR TEN YEARS AND WILL STATE CLEARLY THE HOLDER'S RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG. THESE ARRANGEMENTS WILL GIVE HONG KONG RESIDENTS CONFIDENCE IN THEIR ABILITY TO TRAVEL ON INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED DOCUMENTS IN THE TRANSITION PERIOD AND AFTER 1997.
(B) INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS
THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP HAS ESTABLISHED A STANDING SUB-GROUP ON INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS. IT WILL ADVISE ON ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE TWO GOVERNMENTS TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED APPLIC- ATION OF INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS AFFECTING HONG KONG'' AS REQUIRED IN ANNEX TO THE JOINT DECLARATION. IN VIEW OF THE LARGE NUMBER OF TREATIES AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS RELEVANT TO HONG KONG, ITS WORK WILL TAKE SEVERAL YEARS TO COMPLETE. A GOOD START HAS BEEN MADE WITH BROAD AGREEMENT ON HONG KONG'S FUTURE PARTICPATION IN INTERNATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL AND POSTAL AFFAIRS.
(C) CIVIL AVIATION
WORK HAS COMMENCED ON DISENTANGLING HONG KONG'S AIR SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS FROM THE UK AIR SERVICE AGREEMENTS WHICH AT PRESENT GOVERN THEM. THE SEPARATE HONG KONG/NETHERLANDS AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT SIGNED ON 17TH SEPTEMBER PAVES THE WAY FOR SIMILAR ACTION IN REGARD TO SOME 20 OTHER AGREEMENTS APPLICABLE TO HONG KONG.
(D)
HONG KONG REGISTER OF SHIPPING
THE JOINT DECLARATION PROVIDES THAT THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION WILL BE AUTHORISED TO MAINTAIN A SHIPPING REGISTER AND TO ISSUE RELATED CERTIFICATES UNDER ITS OWN LEGIS- LATION. AFTER EXTENSIVE CONSULTATION WITH SHIPOWNERS, SEAMEN'S UNIONS, AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES, THE BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR THE REGISTER HAVE BEEN AGREED BY THE UNITED KINGDOM AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS. WE HOPE TO HAVE THE NEW REGISTER IN OPERATION BY THE EARLY 1990S.
YOUDE
HMLNAN 2392
FINAL PART OF TWO
GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL:
(E) LAND COMMISSION
THE LAND COMMISSION HAS CONTINUED TO MAKE GOOD PROGRESS, REACHING AGREEMENT ON THE ACCOUNTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SHARING OF INCOME FROM LAND SALES AND ON THE FORM AND CONTENT OF A NUMBER
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