TNAG-1472-FCO40-2003-Ministerial-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 79

CPIAQQ(2)

I.

CONFIDENTIAL

MR WADDINGTON'S VISIT TO HONG KONG:

21-27 SEPTEMBER

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION/SINO-BRITISH

JOINT LIAISON GROUP

Background

1.

The Sino-British Joint Declaration on the future of Hong Kong

was signed by the Prime Minister and Premier Zhao Ziyang in Peking

on 19 December 1984. It entered into force on

and 27 May 1985

registered by both at the UN on 12 June 1985. Both Governments are firmly committed to its full implementation.

2.

In accordance with Annex II to the Joint Declaration, а

Sino-British Joint Liaison Group (JLG) has been established to continue the process of liaison and consultation between Britain and China until the year 2000. It will meet at least once a year in Peking, London and Hong Kong, and from 1988 will have its principal base in Hong Kong. The Group met for the

for the first time in London from

22-25 July 1985.

3.

on

number a

residents.

economic

The Group has now met on four occasions, most recently in London from 22-25 July 1986. It has held wide-ranging discussions

of subjects including Hong Kong's external

relations, the continued application of international rights and

obligations to Hong Kong, and travel documentation for Hong Kong

Agreement has been reached on Hong Kong's future participation in the Asian Development Bank, on how

to ensure Hong

Kong's future participation in the GATT, on the establishment of a separate Hong Kong shipping register, and on a number of issues relating to transitional arrangements for passports and travel documents. We have used the JLG meetings to brief the Chinese on

Hong Kong's plans

localise the civil service,

the to expand

to

police force, and to introduce a new pensions code.

CONFIDENTIAL