TNAG-1377-FCO40-1825-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-Hong-Kong-Bill-1985 — Page 164

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BRITISH AND FIVE CHINESE MEMBERS TO MEET IN LONDON, PEKING AND HONG KONG. THE ANNEX PROVIDES THAT MEMBERS OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP WILL ENJOY DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES AS APPROPRIATE WHEN THE GROUP MEETS IN THE THREE LOCATIONS. EXISTING LEGISLATION WOULD NOT COVER THIS RATHER UNUSUAL CATEGORY OF REPRESENTATIVE, AND IT IS THEREFORE NECESSARY TO LEGISLATE SPECIFICALLY. HONG KONG WILL NEED TO LEGISLATE SEPARATELY TO PROVIDE PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES IN HONG KONG FOR THE CHINESE

APPROPRIATE MEASURES WILL HAVE MEMBERS OF THE GROUP UNTIL 1997.

TO BE TAKEN FOR THE BRITISH MEMBERS OF THE GROUP THEREAFTER. WILL BE FOR THE CHINESE TO PROVIDE SIMILAR PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES TO THE BRITISH MEMBERS WHEN THE GROUP MEETS IN

PEKING.

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40. MR SPEAKER, BEFORE CONCLUDING LET ME SAY A WORD ABOUT THE

I HOPE - THE FUTURE. THE SIGNATURE OF THE AGREEMENT, AND PASSAGE OF THIS BILL, LEADING TO RATIFICATION OF THE AGREEMENT,

THERE IS MUCH REPRESENT THE BEGINNING OF A PROCESS, NOT THE END.

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TO DO BETWEEN NOW AND 1997. IT WILL REQUIRE THE CLOSEST COOPERATION BETWEEN OURSELVES AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. WILL ALSO REQUIRE THE CLOSEST CONSULTATION THROUGHOUT WITH THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

AS THE HOUSE

41. THE PROCESS OF CONSULTATION, WHICH HAS WORKED SO WELL THROUGHOUT THE NEGOTIATION OF THE AGREEMENT, WILL BE FURTHER ASSISTED BY THE PROGRESSIVE STRENGTHENING OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMMENT IN HONG KONG OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS. KNOWS, THE FIRST ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL TAKE PLACE IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR, AND THERE WILL BE A FURTHER PUBLIC REVIEW OF THE ELECTORAL PROCESS AND CONSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE IN

TWO YEARS' TIME.

42. THE MOST IMMEDIATE TASK WILL BE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE

WE ARE NOW JOINT LIAISON GROUP PROVIDED FOR IN THE AGREEMENT. ACTIVELY WORKING ON THIS: THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG IS IN LONDON THIS WEEK, AND MY DISCUSSIONS WITH HIM WILL INCLUDE THIS IMPORTANT SUBJECT. WE SHALL ALSO THEREAFTER NEED TO DISCUSS PRACTICALITIES FURTHER WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. INFORM THE HOUSE IN DUE COURSE OF PROGRESS ON THIS ISSUE.

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I SHALL