FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1987
JOINT LIAISON GROUP COMMUNIQUE
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FOLLOWING IS THE COMMUNIQUE OF THE SIXTH MEETING OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP:-
THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP HELD ITS SIXTH MEETING IN HONG KONG FROM MARCH 17 TO 20.
THE MEETING REVIEWED THE WORK OF THE GROUP IN THE PAST YEAR. THE TWO SIDES WERE SATISFIED WITH THE AGREEMENTS REACHED ON A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT SUBJECTS AND WITH THE PROGRESS MADE TOWARDS THEIR IMPLEMENTATION.
THE GROUP CONTINUED DISCUSSION OF A NUMBER OF MATTERS RAISED DURING THE FIFTH MEETING. POSITIVE RESULTS WERE ACHIEVED AND AGREEMENT REACHED ON SEVERAL ISSUES.
THE GROUP REACHED AGREEMENT ON THE CONTINUED PARTICIPATION OF HONG KONG IN THE CUSTOMS COOPERATION COUNCIL AFTER 1997 IN PARALLEL WITH THE ARRANGEMENTS ALREADY MADE IN THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE (GATT).
THE GROUP EXAMINED THE WORK OF THE SUB GROUP ON INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS, AND REACHED AGREEMENT ON HOW HONG KONG WILL CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTIVITIES OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT (UNCTAD) AFTER 1997. THEY HAD AN EXCHANGE OF VIEWS ON HONG KONG'S CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN THE ACTIVITIES OF THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION (ILO) AND THE CONTINUED APPLICATION OF RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONVENTIONS.
THE GROUP CONFIRMED SPECIFIC PRINCIPLES CONCERNING LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE RIGHT OF ABODE ENDORSEMENT IN TRAVEL DOCUMENTS DISCUSSED AT PREVIOUS MEETINGS OF THE GROUP AND AT EXPERT MEETINGS. THEY REACHED AGREEMENT ON TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR DOCUMENTS OF IDENTITY BEFORE AND AFTER 1997. IT WAS AGREED THAT DOCUMENTS OF IDENTITY ISSUED BEFORE JULY 1, 1997, WHICH WILL HAVE A SEVEN-YEAR VALIDITY, MAY, AS FROM THAT DATE, CONTINUE TO BE USED UNTIL EXPIRY.
THE TWO SIDES HELD A USEFUL PRELIMINARY EXCHANGE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION RELATING TO DEFENCE AND THE MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC ORDER IN THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION AND THE NEED FOR A SMOOTH TRANSITION IN THIS AREA. THEY AGREED TO PURSUE THEIR DISCUSSIONS AT EXPERT LEVEL.
THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP DECIDED THAT ITS NEXT MEETING WOULD TAKE PLACE IN LONDON FROM JULY 7-10, 1987.
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