TNAG-2256-FCO40-3240-Hong-Kong-Port-and-Airport-Development-Strategy-(PADS)-gene-1991 — Page 89

CONFIDENTIAL

H

HONG KONG: THE NEXT SIX YEARS

THE JOINT DECLARATION

1.

The foundation of our policy on Hong Kong is the Joint Declaration, signed in December 1984. In essence the Joint Declaration provides that:

-

Britain will restore the whole of Hong Kong to China on

1 July 1997.

Hong Kong will then become a Special Administrative Region

of China with a high degree of autonomy.

The existing systems legal, social, economic, education,

- will remain unchanged for at least 50 years, as will the lifestyle of Hong Kong people and their rights and

etc

-

freedoms.

- Britain will be responsible for the administration of Hong Kong until 30 June 1997, with the cooperation of China.

- A Joint Liaison Group will be established to discuss matters arising from the Joint Declaration.

Cooperation in

the JLG will be intensified from 1991 onwards.

2.

This agreement was the best which could be negotiated. Hong Kong people would have much preferred the continuation of British administration but that was unrealistic. The Joint Declaration provides a reasonable basis for the maintenance of their livelihood and freedoms after 1997.

LEGAER/1

CC

CONFIDENTIAL