THE JLG AGENDA
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148.
I now turn to a matter which I know is of great
concern to people in
Hong Kong because it vitally affects
their future and the natura of the society in which they will live: this is the vork of the Joint Liaison Group
Britain and China have agreed in the Joint
intensify their cooperation in
(JLG).
Declaration
the
that they will
Joint Liaison Group in the second half of the transition
period.
into the second half. Yet the
We are now
expected
acceleration of the work of the JLG has failed to
materialise.
Instead, it seans
that its work has almost
come to a halt.
149.
It is, therefore,
ssential
that we inject a new
sense of urgency into the JLG.
expect that
Hong Kong has a right to
the JLG performs and completes the task set for
it in the Joint Declaration.
Failure to do so will create
unnecessary uncertainty and confusion about the transition
and will call into doubt Hong Kong's vital legal and
commercial relations with
involved are not
outside world. The issues
generally political.
They are, almost
or practical matters, on which the Hong
always, technical
Kong Government has
These include, for
visa-free travel
put
forward proposals for discussion.
example, proposals to preserve existing
overseas,
to
ascertain
who will enjoy a
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