IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION
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Defence and Public Order
Both in the JLG itself and in talks at expert level held between JLG meetings, useful discussions took place during the year on the implementation of the Joint Declaration in respect of defence and the maintenance of public order.
At the eighth meeting the two sides reviewed with satisfaction the progress made in these discussions and agreed that it was important that timely arrangements be made in relation to defence and public order. The Chinese side explained the role of the Chinese military forces to be stationed in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region with the re- sponsibility for defence in accordance with the Joint Declaration. The British side gave a briefing on their provisional planning for the phased withdrawal of the British garrison.
The two sides agreed in principle that to enable the Hong Kong Police Force to discharge its responsibility for the maintenance of public order before and after 1997, including the prevention of illegal immigration, the Police Force should undergo appropriate limited expansion. The existing Auxiliary Air Force would be re-organised to form a Civil Government Flying Services Department with responsibility for providing the Hong Kong Government with necessary flying services.
The two sides will continue to discuss the practical arrangements to be made before 1997 for the transfer of defence responsibilities in 1997 between the British and Chinese military forces. The two sides will continue their close consultation and co-operation on defence and public order arrangements in future meetings of the JLG.
Localisation of Laws
Some United Kingdom legislation is currently in force in Hong Kong, e.g. in the fields of civil aviation and merchant shipping. Many of the provisions of such legislation will continue to be required after 1997, and it will therefore be necessary to re-enact them locally in Hong Kong (i.e. to ‘localise' them). This is a technical but important task which is necessary to ensure that the Special Administrative Region will have a complete body of law in place on July 1, 1997. At the eighth meeting of the JLG the two sides reached an identity of views on general principles relating to this task.
Terms of Service for the Judiciary
At the eighth meeting of the JLG the two sides exchanged views on the Hong Kong Government's intention to introduce revised terms of service for the Judiciary. One of the main purposes of the revised terms will be to attract more local lawyers to join the Judiciary.
Sub-group on International Rights and Obligations
The first standing sub-group set up by the Joint Liaison Group, the Sub-group on International Rights and Obligations, was formally established in July 1986 to examine and discuss matters relating to the continued application of international rights and obligations affecting Hong Kong and to report its conclusions to the Joint Liaison Group. The sub-group consists of three experts on each side, supplemented as necessary by other experts and supporting staff. It has its principal base in Hong Kong, although it may meet, if necessary, in Peking or London.
The large number of treaties and international obligations relevant to Hong Kong which the sub-group will have to examine individually means that its work will take a number of years to complete. So far the sub-group has held four meetings and has made good
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