Annex II to Doc. 34.024 E
DECLARATION OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
TO THE CUSTOMS CO-OPERATION COUNCIL
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I am instructed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, with reference to
to the Convention establishing the Customs Co-operation Council and to the communication which the British Embassy in Belgium addressed to Your Excellency today, to notify Your Excellency of the Declara- tion of the People's Republic of China as follows :
In accordance with the Joint Declaration of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the question of Hong Kong signed in Beijing on 19 December 1984, the People's Republic of China has decided to resume the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong with effect from 1 July 1997. Hong Kong will, with effect from that date, become a Special Adminis- trative Region of the People's Republic of China which will have international responsibility for the Hong Kong Special Adminis- trative Region. In accordance with paragraph 3 of the Joint Declaration and the relevant provisions of Annex I to that Declaration, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will retain the status of a free port and a separate Customs terri- tory, will maintain the capitalist economic and trade systems previously practised in Hong Kong, will decide its economic and trade policies on its own, and may on its own, using the name of "Hong Kong, China", maintain and develop relations and conclude and implement agreements with states, regions and relevant international organizations in the economic, trade and other fields. Section VI of Annex I to the Joint Declaration further provides in detail that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region may participate in relevant international organizations. Accordingly the Government of the People's Republic of China declares that, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will meet the requirements for a
for a Customs territory to have separate membership of the Council in accordance with article II (A) (ii) of the Convention establishing the Customs Co-operation Council and, if Hong Kong is admitted a separate member of the Council, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region may, using the name of "Hong Kong, China", continue such membership with effect from 1 July 1997.
II.