TNAG-1887-FCO40-2679-Overseas-visits-by-Sir-David-Wilson--Governor-of-Hong-Kong---1990 — Page 126

000 GOVT HOUSE

HK

'89 10-11 11:30

PHGE 13

27

8

The Joint Declaration provides the blueprint for

our future. Much detailed work remains to be done. This

is being conducted on two fronts: first, there is the

Joint Liaison Group in which Britain and China review all

of the various institutional arrangements which must be

renegotiated and agreed if Hong Kong is to continue in its

present form after 1997. The group includes Hong Kong

Government officials as part of the British side.

set up 1985 and its work will go on to the year 2000, three

years after the change of sovereignty.

It was

It has proved to be a most useful means of

liaison. A great deal of work has already been done on

ensuring that the great number of international agreements

which tie Hong Kong to the rest of the world will continue

to apply after the transfer in 1997. Following discussion

in the Joint Liaison Group, it was agreed that Hong Kong

become a separate contracting party to the General

Agreement on Tariffs and Trade the GATT. So too the

Customs Cooperation Council. It has enabled Hong Kong to

conclude its own air services agreements and set up its own

shipping register. Dealing with Hong Kong's participation

in a variety of other international organisations and

agreements continues. These are all practical and necessary

steps for securing our future.