XN000022-1988-12-09 — Page 2

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1988

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11TH MEETING OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP GROUP

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THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP HELD ITS ELEVENTH MEETING IN HONG KONG FROM DECEMBER 6 TO 9. THE GROUP DISCUSSED A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS AND ACHIEVED POSITIVE RESULTS. THE GROUP WELCOMED THE CO-OPERATION WHICH HAD CONTINUED TO DEVELOP BETWEEN THE TWO OFFICES OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP SINCE THEY TOOK HONG KONG AS THEIR PRINCIPAL BASE. THEY AGREED THAT THE MEETING BETWEEN THE SENIOR REPRESENTATIVES WHICH TOOK PLACE ON NOVEMBER 9 HAD BEEN USEFUL, AND THAT SUCH MEETINGS SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE HELD IN FUTURE.

THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP CONTINUED ITS DISCUSSION OF FUTURE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SURRENDER OF FUGITIVE OFFENDERS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND RELEVANT COUNTRIES. THE TWO SIDES REACHED AGREEMENT ON THE BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR THESE ARRANGEMENTS. THEY AGREED THAT EXPERTS SHOULD CONTINUE TO DISCUSS RELEVANT DETAILS.

THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP WELCOMED THE LARGE MEASURE OF AGREEMENT ALREADY REACHED IN THE STANDING SUB-GROUP ON INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS ON HONG KONG'S CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN THE ACTIVITIES OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF), THE INTERNATIONAL BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL FINANCE CORPORATION (IFC) AND THE DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (IDA), THE STANDING

ITS DISCUSSIONS.

SUB-GROUP

(IBRD), THE INTERNATIONAL WILL CONTINUE

THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP WELCOMED THE PROGRESS MADE ON THE LOCALISATION OF LEGISLATION. FOLLOWING THE AGREEMENT REACHED AT ITS TENTH MEETING ON QUESTIONS RELATING то THE LOCALISATION OF LEGISLATION ON ADMIRALTY JURISDICTION IN HONG KONG, THE RELEVANT LEGISLATION WOULD SHORTLY BE INTRODUCED. THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST PIECE OF LOCALISED LEGISLATION IN HONG KONG. THE GROUP CONTINUED THEIR EXCHANGE OF VIEWS ON QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE LEGISLATION ON MERCHANT SHIPPING AND CIVIL AVIATION.

LOCALISATION OF

THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP NOTED THE FURTHER PROGRESS MADE IN CONCLUDING HONG KONG'S AIR SERVICE AGREEMENTS AND REACHED A COMMON UNDERSTANDING ON RELATED POINTS.

THE GROUP HAD A FULL AND USEFUL EXCHANGE OF VIEWS ON PRACTICAL OF ITS ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE DEFENCE OF HONG KONG AND THE MAINTENANCE PUBLIC ORDER, AND

THAT DISCUSSION SHOULD BE CONTINUED AT

EXPERT LEVEL.

AGREED

THE THE GROUP HAD A FURTHER EXCHANGE OF VIEWS ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COURT OF FINAL APPEAL IN HONG KONG.

QUESTION OF

THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP DECIDED THAT ITS NEXT MEETING WOULD TAKE PLACE IN BEIJING FROM MARCH 14 TO 17, 1989.

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