CONFIDENTIAL
The Chinese side also
have not been signed by the PRC, if there is a need for
Hong Kong, the Chinese Government could, in principle, adopt measures to allow them to continue to be applicable to Hong Kong in future" (the Chinese side's speaking note
at Annex D).
indicated that "as for those which
6.
it
the
+
to
party, it will be
indicate to all
The British side propose that, following the above agreement, the Merchant Shipping treaties currently applied LO Hong Kong should continue to apply to the HKSAR after 30
June 1997 in accordance with the Joint Declaration. The
PRC is a party to several of these treaties and, provided
remains 50, it will be necessary only to ensure that the
international rights and obligations currently affecting
Hong Kong are fully preserved in a manner consistent with Joint Declaration and to consider whether any action is
necessary in this regard. However,
as regards those
treaties to which the PRC is not
necessary for the CPG in some way present Contracting Parties, and all Governments which may
become parties before 1 July 1997, that all the
international rights and obligations arising from the
Convention and the Protocol, to the extent that they apply Hong Kong, will be assumed by the CPG with effect from 1
July 1997 and apply to the HKSAR of the PRC. It will
further be necessary to ensure SQ far as possible that
those Contracting Parties either agree, Or at least
acquiesce.
In the opinion of the British side, the best
method for securing this objective would be as described in
pära. 7 of the paper handed to the Chinese side on 15 March
1989,
to
CY-241
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