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ME 2 ABC
HONG KONG: BRIEF FOR CAS
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A.
1.
THE HONG KONG AGREEMENT
The Sino-British Joint Declaration on the future of Hong Kong was 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 agreement has been
widely welcomed by the international community.
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
to and after 1 July 1997, when Hong Kong will become a Special
Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China.
such, it will enjoy considerable autonomy and function essentially
as now.
As
3. The Hong Kong Act enabling the UK to ratify the agreement
received 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.
4. The agreement was ratified on 27 May and entered into force on
that date. Instruments of ratification were exchanged in Peking by
Sir Richard Evans, the British Ambassador, and Mr Zhou Nan, Vice-
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China.
5. In accordance with Annex II to the Joint Declaration, a
Sino-British Joint Liaison Group (JLG) has been established to
continue liaison, consultation and the exchange of information
between the British and Chinese sides until the year 2000. It will
meet in Peking, London and Hong Kong, at least once in each place every year and, from 1 July 1988, will be based principally in Hong
The first meeting of the JLG will take place in London
Kong.
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