ON
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1986
+THESE ARRANGEMENTS WILL GIVE HONG KONG RESIDENTS CONF IDENCE IN THE IR ABILITY TO TRAVEL FREELY IN THE TRANSITION PERIOD, AND AFTER 1997.+
REFERRING TO INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS, SIR EDWARD SAID THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP HAD ESTABLISHED A SUB-GROUP ON THIS. THERE WERE A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF TREATIES AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS WHOSE PROVISIONS OR ACTIVITIES WERE IMPORTANT TO HONG KONG, AND THE WORK WOULD, IN CONSEQUENCE, TAKE SEVERAL YEARS TO COMPLETE.
+A GOOD START HAS BEEN MADE WITH BROAD AGREEMENT ON HONG KONG'S FUTURE PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL AND POSTAL
ARRANGEMENTS.+
DEALING WITH CIVIL AVIATION, SIR EDWARD SAID WORK HAD BEGUN ON SEPARATING HONG KONG'S AIR SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM AIR SERVICE AGREEMENTS WHICH AT PRESENT GOVERNED THEM, A COMMON UNDERSTANDING OF THE PRINCIPLES GOVERNING THIS PROCESS HAD BEEN REACHED WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.
THE SEPARATE HONG KONG-NETHERLANDS AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT, SIGNED ON SEPTEMBER 17, PAVED THE WAY FOR SIMILAR ACTION IN REGARD TO SOME 20 OTHER AGREEMENTS APPLICABLE TO HONG KONG.
ON THE HONG KONG REGISTER OF SHIPPING, SIR EDWARD POINTED OUT THAT THE JOINT DECLARATION PROVIDED THAT THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION WOULD BE AUTHORISED TO MAINTAIN A SHIPPING REGISTER AND TO ISSUE CERTIFICATES UNDER ITS OWN LEGISLATION,
+AFTER EXTENSIVE CONSULTATION WITH SHIPOWNERS, SEAMEN'S UNIONS, AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES, THE BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR THE REGISTER HAVE BEEN AGREED BY THE UNITED KINGDOM AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS. THESE PRINCIPLES HAVE NOW BEEN PUBLISHED. WE HOPE TO HAVE THE NEW REGISTER IN OPERATION IN THE EARLY 1990'S.+
REFERRING TO THE LAND COMMISSION, SIR EDWARD SAID THAT IT HAD CONTINUED TO MAKE GOOD PROGRESS, REACHING AGREEMENT ON THE ACCOUNTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SHARING INCOME FROM LAND SALES, AND ON THE FORM AND CONTENT OF A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT LEGAL DOCUMENTS FOR USE IN LAND TRANSACTIONS.
THE MAJORITY OF LEASES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WOULD EXPIRE ON JUNE 27, 1997, AND TO SEEK TO RENEW LEASES INDIVIDUALLY, WOULD, UNDER EXISTING STATUTORY PROCEDURES, BE A MONUMENTAL TASK.
+ACCORDINGLY, IT HAS BEEN CONCLUDED THAT THE EXTENSION OF THESE LEASES, UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH 2 OF ANNEX ||| OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, WOULD BEST BE ACHIEVED BY LEGISLATION. A BILL FOR THIS PURPOSE WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THIS COUNCIL IN THE COMING SESSION, SIR EDWARD SAID.
/IN SHARING