TNAG-1840-FCO40-2615-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 59

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Secret

DSR 11C (Revised 5/87)

able to develop rapidly, the Joint Declaration has also

contributed to this success.

Secret

Confidential

VII: Implementation of the Joint Declaration

Restricted

Unclassified

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

18.

Since the signature and ratification of the Joint

Declaration, the British and Chinese Governments have

been fully engaged in the work of implementing its

provisions. The main forum for this work is the

Sino-British Joint Liaison Group (JLG). The terms of

reference for the JLG are prescribed in detail in Annex

II to the Joint Declaration. Its functions are:

(a)

to conduct consultations on the

implementation of the Joint Declaration;

(b)

to discuss matters relating to the

(c)

smooth transfer of Government in 1997;

to exchange information and conduct

consultations on such subjects as may

be agreed by the two sides.

19.

Annex II also lays down in broad terms the agenda

for the JLG during the period between its establishment

and 1 July 1997. Matters for consideration include

action to be taken by the two Governments to enable the

future Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to

maintain its economic relations as

a separate customs

territory including its participation in the GATT, action

to ensure the continued application of international

rights and obligations affecting Hong Kong, procedures to