ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE TRANSITION
1995), Canada (agreed to in June 1992), Belgium (July 1995, October 1996) and Austria (February 1996, October 1996).
(b) Surrender of Fugitive Offenders Agreements with: The Netherlands (agreed to in the JLG, August 1992, signed November 1992), Canada (May 1993, September 1993), Australia (September 1993, November 1993), Malaysia (June 1994, January 1995), The Philippines (September 1994, January 1995), the USA (September 1996, December 1996), India (December 1994) and Indonesia (October 1996).
(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), India (September 1993), Singapore (February 1996, April 1996), South Korea (February 1996, March 1996), Italy (June 1996), Mynamar (September 1996), Thailand (September 1996) and Japan (November 1996). Agreement was also reached in September and December 1996 on a model text which will be used as the basis for the negotiation of overflight agreements and 22 negotiating partners, respectively.
(d) Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Agreement with: Australia (agreed to in the JLG February 1996, signed September 1996). Nineteen negotiating partners agreed.
(e) Transfer of Sentenced Persons: Model agreement agreed in the JLG in
February 1996. Six negotiating partners agreed.
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 HKSAR 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
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