Nov ber 1983 and in May 1984. The draft Agreement was
presented to Parliament in a White paper in September
1984. The draft was examined by Parliament in December
1984: in a thorough and wide ranging debate of high
quality, the overwhelming majority of speakers expressed
the view that the Agreement was an excellent one which
provided a sound basis for a stable and prosperous future
for Hong Kong after 1997. The Agreement was signed by
the British and Chinese Governments on 19 December 1984.
The Hong Kong Act 1985, providing for the ending of
British sovereignty and jurisdiction over Hong Kong, was
passed by the British Parliament and received the Royal
Assent on 24 April 1985.
V:
Analysis of the Agreement
11. The Agreement entered into force on 27 May 1985,
when instruments of ratification were exchanged in Peking
between the British and Chinese Governments. It was then
registered at the United Nations by the two governments,
simultaneously, on 12 June 1985.
12. The Agreement consists of a Joint Declaration by
the two governments and three Annexes. The Annexes have
the same status as the Joint Declaration and, taken
together, the Joint Declaration and Annexes constitute
legally binding international agreement. Associated with
the Agreement is a separate Exchange of Memoranda on the
status after 1997 of Hong Kong British passport holders.