TNAG-1753-FCO40-2473-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1988 — Page 63

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IMPLEMENTATION OF JOINT DECLARATION

The Joint Liaison Group, has been entrusted with the important task of implementing the Joint Declaration. It is carrying forward this work most effectively. In the past three years it has registered some important achievements. For example:

separate contracting party status for Hong Kong in the GATT; Hong Kong's separate membership of or participation in a number of other important international organisations, such as the World Health Organisation; the International Maritime Organisation, the International Labour Ogranisation, UNCTAD and the International Atomic Energy Agency;

separate Air Service Agreements for Hong Kong with a number

of countries;

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agreement in principle to a separate shipping register for

Hong Kong;

agreement to the continued use after 1997 of travel and

identity documents in use before that date.

servants.

agreement on new pension arrangements for Hong Kong civil

Progress in matters such as these is of great importance

in sustaining confidence in Hong Kong. We believe that once the Joint Liaison Group takes Hong Kong as its principal base from 1 July, contacts will intensify and progress on the implementation of the Joint Declaration will accelerate.

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