TNAG-1332-FCO40-1762-Future-of-Hong-Kong-White-Paper-on-the-Joint-Declaration-1984 — Page 54

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2.

The section of the annex on external relations makdes provision for continued participation of the SAR in international

organisations, which would include those dealing with cultural matters. It also provides for international agreements in those fields to continue to be applied to the SAR, and for the SAR to

conclude new ones.

(K) EXTERNAL RELATIONS

1. The part of the annex dealing with external relations provides for Hong Kong to continue to manage autonomously those aspects of its external relations, in particular in the economic field, in

which Hong Kong has over the years been left to manage for itself. This takes full account of the fact that just as Hong Kong's economic interests, particularly in the trade field, have been separate from those of the United Kingdom, so they will be separate from those of the People's Republic of China after Hong Kong becomes a Special Administrative Region of the PRC on 1 July 1997. This is particularly important, since Hong Kong's access to its principal overseas markets in the industrialised world, on which Hong Kong's industry is heavily dependent, depends upon recognition of the

separate nature of these interests.

2.

In keeping with the general provisions for Hong Kong to be a Special Administrative Region under Chinese sovereignty, basic responsibility for foreign affairs will lie with the Central People's Government in Peking, just as basic responsibility for

these matters has laid with Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom in the past. The arrangements whereby Hong Kong's

own interests in international negotiations, which are the ultimate responsibility of the sovereign power, may be taken care of by Hong Kong's own representatives operating from within the negotiating team of the sovereign power will also continue.

3. The detailed method by which the provisions of paragraph 3 of this annex will be implemented will have to be worked out during the

transitional period and will be one of the tasks facing the joint liaison group.

There is a very large number of international

agreements which apply to Hong Kong and whose continued application

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