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5.
Will Hong Kong enjoy the promised high degree of autonomy?
The draft clearly recognises that Hong Kong will have a high degree of autonomy over a very wide area of government [Article 2].
The People's Republic of China will of course be the sovereign power
in Hong Kong. It is therefore to be expected that the draft should
contain provisions which reserve certain powers to the central
authorities. The Joint Declaration makes specific mention of
defence and foreign affairs. Similar reservations exist today.
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