CONFIDENTIAL

063267

MDHIAN 292

8. THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP HAS, OVER THE PAST YEAR, CONTINUED TO RECORD SOLID ACHIEVEMENTS. FOLLOWING A CONSULTATION IN THE JOINT

LIAISON GROUP, THE GOVERNMENT WERE ABLE TO START, IN JULY, TO ISSUE PERMANENT HONG KONG IDENTITY CARDS, BRITISH NATIONAL (OVERSEAS)

PASSPORTS AND A NEW TYPE OF CERTIFICATE OF IDENTITY, ALL CONTAINING

A RIGHT OF ABODE ENDORSEMENT WHICH WILL REMAIN VALID AFTER THE

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION IN 1997. THE FIRST OF HONG KONG'S OWN AIR SERVICE AGREEMENTS, THAT IS AN AGREEMENT SEPARATE FROM ONE ALSO INVOLVING THE UNITED KINGDOM, CAME INTO FORCE ON 26 JUNE. ALSO IN JUNE, HONG KONG WAS ADMITTED AS A MEMBER OF THE CUSTOMS CO-OPERATION COUNCIL. AND FULL BEEN REACHED ON THE NEW PENSION SCHEME FOR THE CIVIL WHICH CAME INTO EFFECT ON 1 JULY.

(II) JLG SUB-GROUP IN IRO

AGREEMENT SERVICE,

HAS

OBLIGATIONS

9. THE STANDING SUB-GROUP ON INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS AND SET UP BY THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP, ALSO CONTINUES TO MAKE STEADY PROGRESS. AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED ON HONG KONG'S FUTURE

PARTICIPATION IN THE INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS UNION, THE

INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION, THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT, AND THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION

FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC.

·

(OPEN SQUARE BRACKETS) NB: THERE COULD BE ADDITIONS TO THE LIST OF

ACHIEVEMENTS ON THE IRO SUB-GROUP, DEPENDING ON THE OUTCOME OF ITS NEXT ROUND OF MEETINGS SCHEDULED FOR LATE-SEPTEMBER/EARLY-OCTOBER

1987. ADDITIONS WILL BE REPORTED CLOSER TO THE TIME. (CLOSE SQUARE BRACKETS)

(III) LAND COMMISSION

10. THE LAND COMMISSION HAS CONTINUED TO PRODUCE PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS

TO A NUMBER OF PRACTICAL PROBLEMS. EARLIER THIS YEAR IT REACHED

AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE ON LEGISLATIVE MEANS TO EXTEND THE VAST

MAJORITY OF LAND LEASES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES TO THE YEAR 2047

WITHOUT REQUIRING PAYMENT OF AN ADDITIONAL PREMIUM. (OPEN SQUARE BRACKETS) TO GIVE EFFECT TO THIS, THE NEW TERRITORIES LEASE (EXTENSION) BILL WAS INTRODUCED INTO THIS COUNCIL IN MAY AND IT WILL I HOPE, PASS THROUGH ITS REMAINING STAGES AND BECOME LAW EARLY IN THIS SESSION. (CLOSE SQUARE BRACKETS)

(OPEN SQUARE BRACKETS) THIS WILL DEPEND ON REACHING AGREEMENT WITH

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