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As for the law translation programme, by the end of last year, Chinese texts of 190 ordinances had been declared authentic, drafts of 85 other items had been examined by the Bilingual Laws Advisory Committee, and drafts had been prepared of all other ordinances and subsidiary legislation that were to remain in force.

"I am confident that, on the transfer of sovereignty, we will have a fully bilingual statute book," Mr Mathews said. He added that the next issue of the English- Chinese Glossary of Legal Terms, a bi-product of the bilingual laws programme, would appear this summer.

In the area of international rights and obligations, Mr Mathews pointed out that over the years, the United Kingdom had extended more than 200 multilateral international agreements to Hong Kong. These agreements would cease to apply in 1997 unless agreement was reached with the Chinese side on their continued application.

He noted that so far, the two sides of the Joint Liaison Group (JLG) Sub-group on International Rights and Obligations had reached agreement, in principle, on the continued application of some 170 treaties, including 23 agreements establishing international organisations in which Hong Kong participates. There are about 20 treaties left for discussion, he added.

At the same time, Mr Mathews said, the large network of bilateral agreements extended to Hong Kong by the United Kingdom over the years in a variety of practical areas would have to be re-negotiated to continue beyond 1997.

Agreement had been reached in the JLG for Hong Kong to negotiate and conclude bilateral agreements in areas such as Investment Promotion and Protection, Surrender of Fugitive Offenders, Mutual Legal Assistance, and Transfer of Sentenced Persons, he explained.

A number of bilateral agreements had already been signed, further agreements had been initialled and were awaiting clearance in the JLG before signature, and negotiations are continuing as quickly as possible with additional partners in order that a reasonably comprehensive framework of bilateral agreements could be in place by July 1, 1997, the Attorney General said,

Turning to localisation of laws, Mr Mathews noted that there were about 300 British enactments that had been applied to Hong Kong which would have to be replaced where necessary by local enactments before 1997.

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