TNAG-1338-FCO40-1770-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Beijing-fo-1984 — Page 215

BRITISH HONG KONG GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO EXCEED THE ANNUAL 50 HECTARE

OR NEEDS TO DRAW ON THAT PART OF THE INCOME WHICH BELONGS

TO THE FUTURE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION GOVERNMENT. IN THIS WAY, NOT ONLY IS A PROPORTION OF FINANCIAL INCOME GUARANTEED FOR THE FUTUR

E

SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION GOVERNMENT BUT ALSO THE CONTINUITY OF HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS MAINTAINED.

(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 1988 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 ASLUNEERRASLE DA SADPIRAON LOMHET BROAD MAGGODE EORPATREOJOIN BEQGAROMGO

N

As International opinion. In broad mass of compatriots in Hoy by all

Satisfaction at, and welcome for, The Ton't 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