COHAKZ
ANNEX A
SUMMARY OF MAIN PROVISIONS OF FIRST ANNEX TO THE JOINT DECLARATION
Section I: Constitutional Arrangements and Government Structure
The key points in this section are that a Basic Law will be enacted
by China, stipulating that the socialist system and socialist policies practised in the PRC shall not be extended to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and that Hong Kong's capitalist system and lifestyle shall remain unchanged for 50 years. Except in relation to foreign affairs and defence, the Hong Kong SAR will
enjoy a high degree of autonomy, including executive, legislative and independent judicial power. The Government and legislature of the Hong Kong SAR will be composed of local inhabitants. The Chief
Executive will be selected by election or through consultations held
locally and will be appointed by the Central People's Government.
The legislature will be constituted by elections. The executive
authorities will be required to act in accordance with the law and
will be accountable to the legislature.
Section II: The legal system
This section describes how the Hong Kong SAR will have its own legal
system and laws after 1997. The law of the SAR will include the laws previously in force in Hong Kong (ie in the common law, rules
of equity, ordinances, subordinate legislation and customary law)
and laws passed by the legislature of the SAR, provided they do not
contravene the Basic Law, which will stipulate the policies set out
in the Joint Declaration.
Section III: The Judicial System
This section provides for the maintenance of Hong Kong's existing judicial system essentially unchanged. The system of appeals to the
Privy Council will be replaced by a system based on a Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong, which may as required invite judges from other