TNAG-1332-FCO40-1762-Future-of-Hong-Kong-White-Paper-on-the-Joint-Declaration-1984 — Page 195

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PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, BOTH THROUGH VISITS TO THE TERRITORY AND THROUGH MEETINGS WITH HONG KONG DELEGATIONS VISITING THE UNITED KINGDOM, AND HAVE SOUGHT TO REFLECT HONG KONG'S VIEWS BOTH IN DEBATES AND IN PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS.

INTRODUCTION TO THE AGREEMENT

19. THE FULL TEXT OF THE DRAFT AGREEMENT IS INCLUDED AS PART TWO

OF THIS WHITE PAPER. IT CONSISTS OF A JOINT DECLARATION INCLUDING THREE ANNEXES, TOGETHER WITH AN ASSOCIATED EXCHANGE OF MEMORANDA ON NATIONALITY. EACH PART OF THE AGREEMENT HAS THE

SAME STATUS. THE WHOLE MAKES UP A FORMAL INTERNATIONAL

AGREEMENT, LEGALLY BINDING IN ALL ITS PARTS. AN INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT OF THIS KIND IS THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE FORM OF COMMITMENT BETWEEN SOVEREIGN STATES.

20. THE JOINT DECLARATION CONSISTS IN PART OF LINKED DECLARATIONS BY THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS. IN PARAGRAPH ONE THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT DECLARE THAT THEY WILL RESUME THE EXERCISE OF SOVEREIGNTY OVER HONG KONG ON 1 JULY 1997. IN PARAGRAPH TWO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT DECLARES THAT IT WILL RESTORE HONG KONG TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT FROM THAT DATE. IN PARAGRAPH THREE THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT SETS OUT ITS POLICIES TOWARDS HONG KONG AFTER 1997. IN PARAGRAPH 4 THE TWO GOVERNMENTS JOINTLY DECLARE THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL REMAIN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG UP TO 1997. PARAGRAPHS 5 AND 6 DEAL WITH THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP AND LAND. PARAGRAPH 6 CONSTITUTES THE IMPORTANT LINK BETWEEN THE DECLARATIONS BY THE TWO PARTIES: TOGETHER WITH PARAGRAPH 7 IT HAS THE EFFECT OF MAKING THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE ANNEXES TO IT LEGALLY BINDING IN THEIR ENTIRETY ON THE TWO GOVERNMENTS. IF THE AGREEMENT IS APPROVED BY PARLIAMENT IT WILL BE SIGNED AND WILL ENTER INTO FORCE ON RATIFICATION. THIS LAST STEP WILL BE TAKEN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER THE NECESSARY LEGISLATION HAS BEEN ENACTED.

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ANNEX ONE CONTAINS AN ELABORATION OF CHINESE POLICIES FOR THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION. THE ANNEX DEALS IN DETAIL WITH THE WAY HONG KONG WILL RUN AFTER 1 JULY 1997, AND DESCRIBES THE EXTENT OF THE AUTONOMY AND CONTINUITY WHICH WILL

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