XN000022-1984-12-06 — Page 5

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1984

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FIRST, THE JOINT DECLARATION AND ITS ANNEXES CONSTITUTE A LEGALLY BINDING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT. AS THE CHINESE FORĘ | GN MINISTER RECENTLY TOLD THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS IN PEKING, THE JOINT DECLARATION IS A FORM OF INTERNATIONAL TREATY, IT HAS THE SAME FORCE IN INTERNATIONAL LAW AND IS LEGALLY BINDING.

SECOND, THE POLICIES SET OUT IN THE AGREEMENT WILL, UNDER THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT, BE STIPULATED IN A BASIC LAW WHICH WILL BE PASSED BY THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS OF CHINA AND WHICH WILL ESTABLISH THE SPECIAL CONSTITUTIONAL STATUS OF THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION.

THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES THAT THESE POLICIES WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED FOR 50 YEARS. THE CONTENT OF THE BASIC LAW, AND THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ITS DRAFTING, ARE RIGHTLY OF GREAT INTEREST TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. THEY ARE OF CRUCIAL IMPORTANCE. THE LAW WILL BE PASSED BY THE CHINESE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS UNDER THE POWERS CONFERRED ON IT BY ARTICLES 31 AND 62 OF THE CHINESE CONSTITUTION. THESE ARTICLES PROVIDE THE BASIS FOR SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGIONS WITH SYSTEMS DIFFERENT FROM THOSE IN OTHER PARTS OF CHINA. IT IS, OF COURSE, THE CHINESE WHO MUST UNDERTAKE THE DRAFTING OF THE BASIC LAW, BUT THE JOINT DECLARATION STATES THAT THE BASIC POLICIES FOR HONG KONG SET OUT IN THE JOINT DECLARATION ITSELF AND ELABORATED IN ANNEX 1 WILL BE STIPULATED IN THE BASIC LAW. THE AGREEMENT THUS PROVIDES CLEAR GUIDELINES FOR THE DRAFTING OF THAT LAW.

I KNOW THAT THE CHINESE LEADERS UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS SUBJECT. I AM CONFIDENT TOO THAT THEY WILL HAVE NOTED THE HOPE THAT HAS BEEN WIDELY EXPRESSED IN RECENT WEEKS, THE WIDELY EXPRESSED HOPE THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL BE FULLY CONSULTED ABOUT THE DRAFTING OF THE LAW. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAVE INDICATED THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL BE CONSULTED, THOUGH THE EXACT FORM OF THAT CONSULTATION HAS YET TO BE MADE CLEAR. I WELCOME THAT INDICATION. HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT STAND READY TO EXTEND TO THE CHINESE OUR FULLEST CO-OPERATION, IN THAT AND OTHER RESPECTS.

THE THIRD POINT I WISH TO STRESS ABOUT THE AGREEMENT IS THAT IT INCLUDES SUFFICIENT DETAIL ABOUT THE MANY FIELDS IT COVERS TO GIVE CONFIDENCE BOTH IN HONG KONG AND INTERNATIONALLY THAT THE FUTURE IS A SECURE ONE.

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IT PROVIDES A HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY FOR HONG KONG AS A SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.

IT PROVIDES A FIRM GUARANTEE THAT SOCIALIST POLICIES PURSUED ON THE MAINLAND WILL NOT BE PRACTISED IN HONG KONG.

IT PROVIDES ...............