(V) IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT AND THE SMOOTH TRANSFER OF GOVERNMENT IN 1997 THE TWO SIDES AGREED TO ESTABLISH A SINO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP. ANNEX 2 TO THE JOINT DECLARATION STATES CLEARLY THAT THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP IS AN ORGAN OF LIAISON AND NOT AN ORGAN OF POWER. ITS FUNCTIONS ARE: TO CONDUCT CONSULTATIONS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION: TO DISCUSS MATTERS RELATING TO THE SMOOTH TRANSFER OF GOVERNMENT IN 1997: TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION AND CONDUCT CONSULTATIONS ON SUCH SUBJECTS AS MAY BE AGREED BY THE TWO SIDES. WHEN THE GROUP IS ESTABLISHED ON ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THE JOINT DECLARATION IT WILL MEET IN PEKING, LONDON AND HONG KONG. FROM 1 JULY 1982 HONG KONG WILL BE ITS PRINCIPAL BASE. IT WILL CONTINUE WORK UNTIL 1 JANUARY 2000.
(VI) THE TWO SIDES AGREED THAT AFTER INITIALLING OF THE AGREEMENT IT WILL BE FORMALLY SIGNED BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR, HAVING UNDERGONE EXAMINATION AND APPROVAL ACCORDING TO THE LEGAL PROCEDURES ON EACH SIDE. ACCORDING TO THE AGREEMENT THE JOINT DECLARATION IS SUBJECT TO RATIFICATION. THE TWO GOVERNMENTS WILL EXCHANGE INSTRUMENTS OF RATIFICATION IN PEKING BEFORE 30 JUNE NEXT YEAR AND THE AGREEMENT WILL ENTER INTO FORCE FROM THE DATE
OF EXCHANGE OF INSTRUMENTS OF RATIFICATION.
3. THE MAJOR SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PEACEFUL SOLUTION OF THE HONG KONG
QUESTION
FOLLOWING PUBLICATION OF THE SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT ON THE HONG KONG QUESTION IT IMMEDIATELY RECEIVED THE PRAISE AND SUPPORT OF PEOPLE FROM ALL SPHERES IN HONG KONG, COMPATRIOTS OVERSEAS, AS WELL AS INTERNATIONAL OPINION. THE BROAD MASS OF COMPATRIOTS IN HONG KONG ALL EXPRESSED SATISFACTION AT, AND WELCOME FOR, THE JOINT DECLARATION. THE GOVERNMENTS OF MANY COUNTRIES ALSO SEPARATELY ISSUED STATEMENTS PRAISING THE SUCCESS OF THE SINO-BRITISH TALKS AS AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE IN CURRENT INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF THE SOLUTION OF A COMPLEX QUESTION IN A PEACEFUL MANNER. THE SATISFACTORY SOLUTION OF THE HONG KONG QUESTION IS IN CONFORMITY WITH THE BASIC INTERESTS OF THE WHOLE CHINESE PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE HONG KONG COMPATRIOTS, AND IT IS OF FAR-REACHING HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE.
(1) THE SUCCESSFUL SOLUTION OF THE HONG KONG QUESTION IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS REALISING THE GREAT CAUSE OF REUNIFYING THE MOTHERLAND AND IS OF BENEFFIT TO THE MAINTENANCE OF THE LONG TERM PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG, AND OF SENEFIT TO OUR CONSTRUCTION AND SOCIALIST MODERNISATION.
ON 1 JULY 1997 HONG KONG WILL ONCE AGAIN RETURN TO THE EMBRACE OF THE MOTHERLAND. THIS IS A MAJOR EVENT IN THE MODERN HISTORY OF CHINA AND OF THE WORLD. IT WILL EXPUNGE THE NATIONAL HUMILIATION OVER THE PAST 100 YEARS AND MORE OF THE CHINESE PEOPLE, AND IT IS WORTHY OF CONGRATULATION FROM THE ENTIRE CHINESE PEOPLE, INCLUDING
COMPATRIOTS IN HONG KONG.
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