FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 1986

JOINT LIAISON GROUP COMMUNIQUE

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THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP HELD ITS THIRD MEETING

IN HONG KONG FROM MARCH 11 TO 14, 1986.

THE MEETING REVIEWED WITH SATISFACTION THE WORK OF THE GROUP IN ITS FIRST YEAR. THE TWO SIDES CONTINUED, IN A SPIRIT OF FRIENDLY COOPERATION, DISCUSSION IN DEPTH ON THE RELEVANT ISSUES AND ACHIEVED POSITIVE RESULTS.

THE GROUP FURTHER DISCUSSED MEANS TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED PARTICIPATION OF HONG KONG AS A SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION IN THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE AS WELL AS ARRANGEMENTS RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN TEXTILES, AND REACHED AN IDENTITY OF VIEWS ON HOW THIS QUESTION WILL BE

THE TWO SIDES AGREED SOLVED AND THE STEPS TOWARDS ITS SOLUTION.

THAT CONCRETE MEASURES WILL BE TAKEN IN THIS RESPECT.

J

THE GROUP CONTINUED DETAILED DISCUSSIONS ON TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION FOR HONG KONG RESIDENTS AND RELATED MATTERS: THEY REACHED AGREEMENT ON THE TERMS OF A RIGHT OF ABODE ENDORSEMENT. THE TWO SIDES CONFIRMED THAT IDENTITY CARDS ISSUED IN HONG KONG BEFORE JULY 1 1997 WILL, AS FROM THAT DATE, CONTINUE TO BE USED UNTIL THEY ARE REPLACED BY IDENTITY CARDS ISSUED BY THE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION GOVERNMENT. THE TWO SIDES ALSO AGREED IN PRINCIPLE THAT CERTIFICATES OF IDENTITY ISSUED IN HONG KONG BEFORE JULY 1, 1997 WILL, AS FROM THAT DATE, CONTINUE TO BE USED, AS A TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENT. THEY WILL CONTINUE TO EXCHANGE VIEWS ON RELEVANT DETAILS.

THE GROUP FURTHER DISCUSSED THE QUESTION OF INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS AFFECTING HONG KONG AND DECIDED TO SET UP A STANDING SUB-GROUP OF EXPERTS, WITH ITS PRINCIPAL BASE IN MONG KONG, TO ASSIST IN THE RELATED WORK.

THE TWO SIDES ALSO HAD A PRELIMINARY EXCHANGE OF VIEWS ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A HONG KONG SHIPPING REGISTER.

THE GROUP DECIDED THAT THE NEXT MEETING WOULD TAKE PLACE IN LONDON FROM JULY 22 TO 25, 1986.

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