TNAG-1603-FCO40-2210-Future-of-Hong-Kong-annual-reports-to-Parliament-on-Hong-Kon-1987 — Page 50

RESTRICTED

9.

The royal visit was undoubtedly greatly enjoyed by the ..ong

Kong people. It was a symbol of the continuing commitment of the

United Kingdom to Hong Kong, in the period of transition up to 1997;

echoed by Her Majesty's own words to the people of Hong Kong: "As

you move towards a new phase in your development, our thoughts wil1

always be with you".

IV.

(a)

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION

Contacts with the Chinese Government

10.

Over the past year there have been a number of meetings.

between members of Her Majesty's Government and Chinese Ministers,

at which Hong Kong has been discussed. Both sides have reaffirmed

their commitment to the full and faithful implementation of the

Joint Declaration in the interests of maintaining Hong Kong's

prosperity and

stability. The historic visit of Her Majesty The

Queen to China

in

October 1986 demonstrated the close and cordial

relationship between the United Kingdom and China, a relationship in

which agreement on the question of

significant part.

(b)

11.

Sino-British Joint Liaison Group

Hong . Kong has played a

The second, third, fourth and fifth meetings of the Joint

Liaison Group have taken place during the period covered by this

report. Good progress has been made in agreeing detailed practical

arrangements to enable Hong Kong to make a smooth transition from

British Dependent Territory to Special Administrative Region of the

People's Republic of China in accordance with the Joint Declaration.

The Group's principal achievements in this period have been:

(i)

Agreement that Hong Kong should be deemed a separate

contracting party to the Jeneral Agreement on Tariffs

in that status after 1997

Hong Kong duly

and Trade and should continue

in the name of "Hong Kong, China".

became the GATT's

91st

contracting party on 23 April

1986.

RESTRICTED