ME 2 ABC
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UK/CHINA POL-MIL TALKS : PEKING
16-17 MAY 1985
BRIEF NO 8:
HONG KONG
A.
THE HONG KONG AGREEMENT
1.
was
The Sino-British Joint Declaration on the future of Hong Kong
signed by the Prime Minister and the Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang
on 19 December 1984 in Peking. It marked the outcome of
two years of intensive negotiations with the agreeed common aim of maintaining
Hong Kong's stability and prosperity.
The
2. A note on the main provisions of the agreement is attached.
Government believe that the agreement provides the best possible
framework for the continuing stability and prosperity of Hong Kong
up to and after 1 July 1997, when Hong Kong will become a Special
Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China. A s
such, it will enjoy considerable autonomy and function essentially
as now.
3. The people of Hong Kong were given an opportunity to express
their views on the agreement before it was signed. Their views were
collated by an Assessment Office, which reported that the majority
found the agreement acceptable. The agreement has been
widely welcomed by the international community.
4.
The Hong Kong Act enabling the UK to ratify the
the agreement
received the Royal Assent
the Royal Assent on 4 April. It provides for the
termination of British sovereignty and jurisdiction over Hong Kong as from 1 July 1997, subsequent Orders in Council to amend British Nationality Law and to adapt other laws affecting Hong Kong, and - privileges and immunities for Chinese members of the Joint Liaison
Group.
The agreement states that instruments of ratification shall be
exchanged before 30 June 1985.
5.
A Joint Liaison Group will be established on the entry into
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Private notes are available after approval.