IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION
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(c) Air Services Agreements with: The Netherlands (agreed to in the JLG July 1986, signed September 1986), Switzerland (November 1987, January 1988), Canada (March 1988, June 1988), Brunei (November 1988, January 1989), France (December 1988, August 1990), New Zealand (December 1990, February 1991), Malaysia (December 1990, March 1991), Brazil (June 1991, September 1991), Sri Lanka (September 1992, February 1993), Australia (June 1993, September 1993), Germany, (December 1994, May 1995) and India (September 1993).
Early in the JLG's existence agreement was reached that some travel and identity documents issued to Hong Kong residents before July 1, 1997, would continue to be valid thereafter, including:
(a) Certificate of Identity and Permanent Identity Card (1985);
(b) Document of Identity (1987);
(c) Hong Kong Seaman's Certificate of Nationality and Identity (1988);
(d) Seaman's Identity Books (1992); and
(e) Re-entry Permits (1992).
The Joint Declaration provides that in the second half of the period between the establishment of the JLG and July 1, 1997, matters for consideration shall include:
(a) procedures to be adopted for the smooth transition in 1997; and (b) action to assist the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to maintain and develop economic and cultural relations and conclude agreements on these matters with states, regions and relevant international organisations.
Much has already been done to achieve a smooth transition. As early as 1986, the two sides agreed to the introduction of a new pension scheme for the civil service. In 1987, agreement was reached on the expansion of the Police Force. In 1990, an agreement was reached on the measures that needed to be taken as a result of the establishment of the Special Administrative Region in respect of the Hong Kong Government's archives. In 1994, there was a comprehensive agreement on the future use of the defence estate in Hong Kong, and agreement was reached on the site for the future Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office in Hong Kong. Also in 1994, agreement was reached on transitional arrangements for postal stamps, and the future arrangements for international call sign services for Hong Kong.
One of the JLG's most important achievements has been to ensure the continuity of the judiciary in Hong Kong. The Joint Declaration and the Basic Law both provide that the judicial system previously practised in Hong Kong shall be maintained except for those changes consequent on the establishment of the Court of Final Appeal of the HKSAR. In 1991, agreement was reached on the early establishment of the Court of Final Appeal and in June 1995 this was given practical effect with an agreement on the establishment of the court on July 1, 1997, in accordance with the provisions of the Court of Final Appeal Ordinance passed by the Legislative Council in the 1994-95 session.
Agreements have also been reached to ensure that the UK Laws currently in force in Hong Kong will continue to apply after June 30, 1997. The JLG has reached agreement on the localisation of about 80 UK enactments in the following areas of law: Merchant Shipping (Registration) (1986); Admiralty Jurisdiction (Civil) (1988);