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IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION
progress. Expert exchanges in the sub-group have led to agreement in principle between the two sides at the JLG on Hong Kong's participation in the following organisations after 1997:
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Universal Postal Union: the SAR should maintain its own separate postal administra- tion and its representatives should participate as members of the Chinese delegation in meetings of the Universal Postal Union.
World Meteorological Organisation: the SAR should continue to have its own meteorological service and should remain a member of the World Meteorological Organisation.
International Maritime Organisation: the SAR should retain its associate member status in the International Maritime Organisation and the maritime conventions applying to Hong Kong should continue to be applied after 1997 to the SAR. International Telecommunication Union: the SAR should continue to participate in an appropriate capacity in the activities of the International Telecommunication Union, exercising the same autonomy in telecommunications services as at present. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development: the SAR should continue with the present form of participation in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development after 1997.
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific: the SAR should continue to participate as an associate member in the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.
International Labour Organisation: the SAR should continue to participate in meetings of the International Labour Organisation and international labour conven- tions applying to Hong Kong should continue to be applied after 1997 in the SAR. The SAR may also have new international labour conventions applied to it even if these conventions do not apply to China as a whole.
Food and Agriculture Organisation: the SAR should continue to participate in activities of subsidiary bodies of the Food and Agriculture Organisation in the Asian Pacific Region and maintain business and technical contact with these bodies and the organisation itself.
The Land Commission
The Sino-British Land Commission was established in accordance with Annex III to the Joint Declaration. Its function is to conduct consultations on the provisions of Annex III on land leases and other related matters. The commission is composed of three officials on each side, assisted by a number of supporting staff. Meetings of the commission are held in Hong Kong at times agreed by both sides.
During 1987, four meetings of the commission were held, and agreements were reached on a number of important matters. These include:
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Agreement on the extension of the vast majority of land leases in the New Territories, which would expire before July 1, 1997, to the year 2047 by legislative means. In accordance with the terms of Annex III to the Joint Declaration, extension of these leases will be free of premium, but from the date of extension an annual rent equivalent to three per cent of the rateable value of the property at that date, adjusted in step with any changes with the rateable value thereafter, will be charged.
Agreement on the land disposal programme for the 1987-8 financial year. The agreed programme comprises just under 75 hectares of new land, as compared with the annual limit for the disposal of new land of 50 hectares specified in paragraph 4 of Annex III