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97.
The
working
atmosphere between ourselves and China
has improved during the year. The Joint Liaison Group met
in
September and made progress on some of the matters it is
It has a great deal of important work still to
handling.
matters to
be
sorted out
do in the years ahead. Following the understanding reached
earlier this year which will allow the 1995 legislature to
continue beyond 1997, we now need to plan for the continuity
of day-to-day administration. There are many complex legal
international agreements
affecting Hong Kong, the localisation of laws and
arrangements for Hong Kong to continue to be responsible for
key elements of its economic life. The continuity of the
judicial system is another area of great importance to the
stability of Hong Kong after 1997. We need to get in place
arrangements for
establishing in Hong Kong our own Court of
Final Appeal. So there is much to do, and a need to tackle
it quickly, pragmatically and efficiently.
98.
As
We get nearer to 1997, there will be an
increasing need to make sure that the Chinese Government is
well informed on important matters
extend beyond 1997.
For Chinese
of policy which will
leaders to have a full
understanding of how Hong Kong works, what our key
priorities are and how we go about taking decisions, will be
/helpful
: