IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION
discussions on arrangements for setting up the court in Hong Kong before 1997. At the 20th meeting of the JLG in September 1991, the two sides reached principled agreement on the establishment of the Court of Final Appeal. Draft legislation and a package of arrangements for establishing the court are being considered.
Localisation of Laws
As explained in Chapter 3 under the heading 'Law in Hong Kong', a large number of United Kingdom laws currently apply to Hong Kong. These laws will cease to have effect in Hong Kong after June 30, 1997. It will, therefore, be necessary to 'localise' them then, that is, replace them by legislation enacted in Hong Kong which will survive that date. At the eighth meeting of the JLG held in November 1987, the two sides agreed on the general principles for consultation on the localisation of United Kingdom legislation, since when good progress has been made. As at December 31, 1991, five localising ordinances have been enacted and 31 sets of localising regulations have been made.
Air Service Agreements
Hong Kong concluded three Air Service Agreements (ASAs) with foreign countries in 1991 with New Zealand in February, with Malaysia in March and with Brazil in September. The former two are under the ASA separation programme, whereby provisions involving Hong Kong under United Kingdom ASAS are separated into discrete Hong Kong ASAS. The Hong Kong/Brazil ASA is a new agreement. These bring to eight the number of ASAs concluded so far by Hong Kong. The other five ASAS are with the Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada, Brunei and France. Negotiations with a number of other aviation partners are at an advanced stage.
Sub-group on International Rights and Obligations
The Sub-group on International Rights and Obligations, set up by the Joint Liaison Group, was formally established in July 1986 to examine and discuss matters relating to continued application after 1997 of international rights and obligations affecting Hong Kong and to report its conclusions to the JLG. The sub-group, which is based in Hong Kong, consists of three experts on each side, supplemented as necessary by other experts and supporting staff.
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The considerable number of treaties and international obligations applying to Hong Kong, which the sub-group will have to examine individually, indicates that its work will take a number of years to complete and the two sides have reached agreement in the JLG on Hong Kong's continued participation in 26 international organisations. The sub-group has made good progress. It has also been discussing the continued application after 1997 of multilateral treaties currently applying to Hong Kong and has so far reached agreement on the continued application to Hong Kong after 1997 of a number of treaties on customs conservation and health.
Land Commission
The Sino-British Land Commission was established in 1985 in accordance with Annex III to the Joint Declaration. Its function is to conduct consultations on the implementation of the provisions of Annex III on land leases and other related matters. The commission is composed of three officials on each side and meetings are held in Hong Kong.
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