9
The
general and detailed
Declaration.
The two
Region exercising a high degree of autonomy and democracy which
would enable it to preserve its existing way of life amid
prosperity and stability for the next fifty years. Much of this
was spelt out in considerable detail. During the intervening
period of thirteen years Britain would continue to exercise sole
responsibility for the administration of the territory.
Chinese side would meanwhile prepare a Basic Law (or mini-
constitution) that would embody the
provisions spelt out in the Joint
governments committed themselves to effect a "smooth transfer of
government in 1997." A Joint Liaison Group (JLG) was established
to help implement the agreement. On British insistence it was
specifically excluded from being an organ of power. On Chinese
insistence a separate Land Commission was established to monitor
land sales and the equal distribution of premium income between
the British Hong Kong Government and that of the post 1997 one.
The two sides also agreed to cooperate in the implementation of
the agreement to preserve Hong Kong's economic prosperity and its
social stability and the JLG would intensify its co-operation in
the second half of the transition period. The Joint Declaration
which is regarded by both sides as an international treaty has
since served as the framework for the evolution of Hong Kong.
Thereafter the implementation of the Joint declaration
involved increasing the democratic basis of the Legislative
Council amid close consultations with the Chinese side; the
negotiating of agreements in the JLG on issues involving the
territory's future international economic arrangements -notable