RESTRICTED
9.
The royal visit was undoubtedly greatly enjoyed by the ..ong
Kong people. It was a symbol of the continuing commitment of the
United Kingdom to Hong Kong, in the period of transition up to 1997;
echoed by Her Majesty's own words to the people of Hong Kong: "As
you move towards a new phase in your development, our thoughts wil1
always be with you".
IV.
(a)
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION
Contacts with the Chinese Government
10.
Over the past year there have been a number of meetings.
between members of Her Majesty's Government and Chinese Ministers,
at which Hong Kong has been discussed. Both sides have reaffirmed
their commitment to the full and faithful implementation of the
Joint Declaration in the interests of maintaining Hong Kong's
prosperity and
stability. The historic visit of Her Majesty The
Queen to China
in
October 1986 demonstrated the close and cordial
relationship between the United Kingdom and China, a relationship in
which agreement on the question of
significant part.
(b)
11.
Sino-British Joint Liaison Group
Hong . Kong has played a
The second, third, fourth and fifth meetings of the Joint
Liaison Group have taken place during the period covered by this
report. Good progress has been made in agreeing detailed practical
arrangements to enable Hong Kong to make a smooth transition from
British Dependent Territory to Special Administrative Region of the
People's Republic of China in accordance with the Joint Declaration.
The Group's principal achievements in this period have been:
(i)
Agreement that Hong Kong should be deemed a separate
contracting party to the Jeneral Agreement on Tariffs
in that status after 1997
Hong Kong duly
and Trade and should continue
in the name of "Hong Kong, China".
became the GATT's
91st
contracting party on 23 April
1986.
RESTRICTED