TNAG-1840-FCO40-2615-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 123

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

DSR 11C (Revised 5/87)

prospect. The Agreement was widely welcomed

internationally as a a major diplomatic achievement.

Top Secret

Secret

Confidential

Restricted

Unclassified

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

IV:

Consultation with the British Parliament

10. The British Parliament took a close interest in the

progress of the negotiations and in the Joint Declaration

itself. There were debates on Hong Kong in October and

November 1983 and in May 1984. The draft Agreement was

presented to Parliament in a White Paper in September

1984. The draft was examined by Parliament in December

1984: in a thorough and wide ranging debate, the

overwhelming majority of speakers expressed the view that

the agreement was an excellent one which provided a sound

basis for a stable and prosperous future for Hong Kong

after 1997. The Joint Declaration was signed by the

British and Chinese Governments on 19 December 1984. The

Hong Kong Act 1985, providing for the ending of British

sovereignty and jurisdiction over Hong Kong on 30 June

1997, was passed by Parliament and received the Royal

Assent on 24 April 1985.

V:

Analysis of the Joint Declaration

11. The Agreement entered into force on 27 May 1985,

when instruments of ratification were exchanged in Peking

between the British and Chinese Governments.

On

12 June 1985 it was registered at the United Nations by

the two governments, simultaneously.