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it would not be realistic to think of an agreement that provided for continued British administration in Hong Kong after 1997: for that reason Her Majesty's Government had been examining with the Chinese Government how it might be possible to arrive at arrangements that would secure for Hong Kong, after 1997, a high degree of autonomy under Chinese sovereignty, and that would preserve the way of life in Hong Kong, together with the essentials of the present systems. He made it clear that Her Majesty's Government were working for a framework of arrangements that would provide for the maintenance of Hong Kong's flourishing and dynamic society, and an agreement in which such arrangements would be formally
set out.
12. After Sir Geoffrey Howe's visit in April 1984 negotiations continued. A working group was established on 21 June 1984 to meet full-time in Peking and consider documents tabled by both sides. From 27 to 31 July 1984 the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs again visited Peking. The visit was devoted almost entirely to the future of Hong Kong. Sir Geoffrey Howe announced in Hong Kong on 1 August that very substantial progress had been made towards agreement on the form and content of documents which would set out arrangements for Hong Kong's future with clarity and precision, in legally binding form.
13. Sir Geoffrey also announced on the same occasion that the two sides had agreed to establish a Sino-British Joint Liaison Group which would come into being when the agreement came into force and continue until the year 2000. It would meet in Peking, London and Hong Kong. It was agreed that the Group would not be an organ of power. Its functions would be: liaison, consultation on the implementation of the agreement, and exchange of information. It was agreed that it would play no part in the administration of Hong Kong. Her Majesty's Government would continue to be responsible for the administration of Hong Kong up to 30 June 1997.
14. Following Sir Geoffrey Howe's visit the negotiations continued on the remaining unresolved issues and three further rounds of plenary talks took place. A further ad hoc working group was established in Peking on 24 August. By 18 September negotiators on both sides had approved the English and Chinese texts of the documents that make up the agreement and the associated Exchange of Memoranda. These were sub- mitted to British Ministers and Chinese leaders for final approval. texts were initialled by the two delegation leaders on 26 September.
Consultation with the People of Hong Kong
The
15. From the beginning of the negotiations Her Majesty's Government have been conscious that the negotiations concerned the interests and future of the five and a half million people of Hong Kong. It has been the con- sistent position of Her Majesty's Government that any agreement with the Chinese Government on the future of the territory should be acceptable to the people of Hong Kong as well as to the British Parliament and the Chinese Government.
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