XN000022-1987-11-13 — Page 2

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1987

JOINT LIAISON GROUP COMMUNIQUE

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FOLLOWING IS THE COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AFTER THE EIGHTH MEETING THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP:

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THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP HELD ITS EIGHTH MEETING IN PEKING ON NOVEMBER 10 TO 13. POSITIVE RESULTS WERE ACHIEVED.

THE TWO SIDES REVIEWED WITH SATISFACTION THE GOOD PROGRESS MADE IN THEIR DISCUSSIONS ON THE DEFENCE OF HONG KONG AND THE MAINTENANCE OF ITS PUBLIC ORDER. THE TWO SIDES AGREED THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO THE SMOOTH TRANSFER OF GOVERNMENT IN 1997 AND TO THE MAINTENANCE OF HONG KONG'S STABILITY AND PROSPERITY THAT TIMELY ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD BE MADE IN RELATION TO DEFENCE AND PUBLIC ORDER. THE TWO SIDES AGREED то CONTINUB THEIR CLOSE CONSULTATION AND CO-OPERATION ON THE RELEVANT PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS.

ON THE BASIS OF WORK DONE BY THE STANDING SUB-GROUP ON INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS, THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP REACHED AGREEMENT ON THE CONTINUED APPLICATION TO HONG KONG AFTER 1997 OF RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONVENTIONS AND ON HONG KONG'S CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN THE ACTIVITIES OF THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION. THE TWO SIDES ALSO REACHED AGREEMENT ON THE CONTINUED PARTICPATION OF THE HONG KONG SAR AFTER 1997 IN THE ACTIVITIES OF SUBSIDIARY BODIES OF THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANISATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN THE ASIAN-PACIFIC REGION.

THE GROUP DISCUSSED PROGRESS SERVICE AGREEMENTS AND REACHED A MATTERS.

IN CONCLUDING HONG KONG'S AIR COMMON UNDERSTANDING ON RELATED

THE GROUP REACHED IDENTITY OF VIEWS ON GENERAL PRINCIPLES RELATING TO THE LOCALISATION OF LEGISLATION. THEY AGREED THAT DETAILS SHOULD BE DISCUSSED AT EXPERT LEVEL.

THE GROUP EXCHANGED VIEWS ON IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TERMS OF SERVICE OF THE HONG KONG JUDICIARY.

THE BRITISH SIDE PROVIDED INFORMATION ON THR PROGRESS OF THE POLITICAL REVIEW IN HONG KONG.

THE GROUP EXPRESSED ITS APPRECIATION FOR ALL THE HARD WORK DONE BY EXPERTS ON BOTH SIDES BEFORE AND DURING THE MEETING.

THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP DECIDED THAT ITS NEXT MEETING WOULD TAKE PLACE IN HONG KONG FROM MARCH 8 TO 11 NEXT YEAR.

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