TNAG-1413-FCO40-1889-Future-of-Hong-Kong-annual-report-to-Parliament-on-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 101

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MEETING IN LONDON FROM 22 TO 25 JULY 1985. AT THAT MEETING THE

TWO SIDES AGREED ON THE WORKING PROCEDURES OF THE GROUP AND ON

ARRANGEMENTS FOR HONG KONG TO REMAIN A MEMBER OF THE ASIAN

DEVELOPMENT BANK AFTER 30 JUNE 1997. THE GROUP ALSO DISCUSSED

HONG KONG'S CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON

TARIFFS AND TRADE AND THE MULTIFIBRE ARRANGEMENT AND THE

CONTINUED APPLICATION OF INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS TO

HONG KONG. IT WAS AGREED THAT DISCUSSION OF THESE SUBJECTS WOULD

CONTINUE AT THE SECOND MEETING OF THE GROUP.

(C) LAND COMMISSION

8. A SINO-BRITISH LAND COMMISSION HAS ALSO BEEN ESTABLISHED

UNDER THE TERMS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION TO MONITOR AND CONSULT

ON LAND MATTERS PROVIDED FOR IN THE JOINT DECLARATION. IT HELD

FIVE MEETINGS BETWEEN 10 JULY AND 17 OCTOBER 1985, ALL IN HONG

KONG. THE COMMISSION QUICKLY REACHED AGREEMENT ON A SERIES OF

LEGAL DOCUMENTS FOR USE IN LAND TRANSACTIONS. THE COMMISSION

ALSO DETERMINED THE LAND DISPOSAL PROGRAMME FOR THE PERIOD FROM

27 MAY 1985, WHEN THE JOINT DECLARATION ENTERED INTO FORCE, TO 31

MARCH 1986. THE PROGRAMME AGREED FOR THIS TEN-MONTH PERIOD WAS 58 HECTARES, EXERCISING THE PROVISION IN THE JOINT DECLARATION

WHICH ALLOWS THE SPECIFIED ANNUAL LIMIT OF 50 HECTARES TO BE

EXCEEDED.

(D) ESTABLISHMENT OF BASIC LAW

DRAFTING COMMITTEE BY CHINESE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS

9. UNDER PARAGRAPH 3(12) OF THE JOINT DECLARATION THE POLICIES

OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA REGARDING HONG KONG, WHICH ARE

SET OUT IN PARAGRAPH 3 OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, AND THE

ELABORATION OF THEM IN ANNEX I TO THE JOINT DECLARATION WILL BE

STIPULATED IN A BASIC LAW OF THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE

REGION OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA BY THE CHINESE NATIONAL

PEOPLE'S CONGRESS, AND THEY WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED FOR 50 YEARS.

THE CHINESE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS HAS APPOINTED A 59-MEMBER

BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE, 23 OF WHOSE MEMBERS COME FROM HONG KONG. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO ANNOUNCED THE FORMATION OF

A BASIC LAW CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE IN HONG KONG TO REFLECT THE

VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TO THE DRAFTING COMMITTEE.

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/ MAJESTY'S