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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1993
JLG 27TH MEETING: JOINT COMMUNIQUE
THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP HELD ITS PEKING FROM 14 TO 16 SEPTEMBER 1993.
TWENTY-SEVENTH
MEETING IN
THE GROUP HAD A FURTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT THE FUTURE OF LANDS WHICH ARE NOW IN USE FOR DEFENCE PURPOSES IN HONG KONG; MATTERS RELATING TO HONG KONG'S INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS (IRO)}; HONG KONG'S AIR SERVICES AGREEMENTS; FRANCHISES AND CONTRACTS EXTENDING BEYOND 1997 AND RELATED MATTERS; INVESTMENT PROMOTION AND PROTECTION AGREEMENTS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND RELEVANT COUNTRIES; SURRENDER OF FUGITIVE OFFENDERS AGREEMENTS BETWEEN
HONG KONG AND RELEVANT COUNTRIES; MUTUAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN CRIMINAL MATTERS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CERTAIN COUNTRIES; LOCALISATION OF LAWS: ADAPTATION OF LAWS; THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION RELATING ΤΟ THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN HONG KONG AFTER 1997; VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENTS; THE RECIPROCAL ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES; AND CIVIL SERVICE MATTERS.
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP WILL TAKE PLACE IN LONDON IN DECEMBER 1993.
MR ANTHONY GALSWORTHY'S OPENING STATEMENT TO THE PRESS:
I RECOGNISE THAT THE AGREED COMMUNIQUE WAS NOT VERY INFORMATIVE, AND WILL TRY TO MAKE UP FOR THAT.
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WE HAVE AGREED THAT ONE FURTHER AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT
THAT WITH INDIA SHOULD BE SIGNED. WE HAVE SIGNED MINUTES RECORDING AGREEMENT ON FOUR FRANCHISES WHICH HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN AGREED. HOWEVER WE MADE NO PROGRESS ON CONTAINER TERMINAL 9, DESPITE THE IMPORTANCE WHICH THIS PROJECT HAS FOR HONG KONG'S ECONOMY.
THE POSITION ON DEFENCE LANDS IS THAT THERE REMAIN SOME GAPS OF IMPORTANCE BETWEEN THE POSITIONS OF THE TWO SIDES, DESPITE THE REAL PROGRESS WHICH HAS BEEN MADE. I THINK THAT WE MAY HAVE MADE A LITTLE PROGRESS AT THIS MEETING IN IDENTIFYING POSSIBLE WAYS TO BRIDGE OUR REMAINING DIFFERENCES: THESE WILL BE FURTHER EXPLORED AT AN EXPERT MEETING NEXT MONTH.
OR IRO'S, WE AGREED THAT THREE MULTILATERAL INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS IN THE PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW CATEGORY WOULD CONTINUE IN FORCE AFTER 1997. THESE CONVENTIONS ESTABLISHED SYSTEMS UNDER WHICH CERTAIN PUBLIC DOCUMENTS (FOR EXAMPLE JUDICIAL AND NOTARIAL DOCUMENTS) ARE EXEMPT FROM OFFICIAL CERTIFICATION, LEGAL DOCUMENTS ISSUED IN ONE COUNTRY CAN BE SERVED IN ANOTHER AND EVIDENCE FROM ONE COUNTRY REQUIRED IN CIVIL JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS IN ANOTHER CAN BE OBTAINED.
THESE THREE CONVENTIONS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN ENSURING THAT LEGAL PROCESS AND CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE HONG KONG BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THEIR TRADING PARTNERS ABROAD MAY BE EFFICIENTLY DISCHARGED.
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