brilliant!
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However, last September, Britain and China agreed to set up the Court in
1993 but limited the Court's power so that no more than one overseas judge
may be invited at any one time. This was so blatantly contrary to the
Joint Declaration and the Basic Law that the Hong Kong Legislative
Council, in a motion debate that I sponsored in December, rejected the
agreement by a decisive vote of 34 to 11.
MONITORING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION
The Joint Declaration is a binding agreement on how Hong Kong is to be run
for 50 years after 1997. That being the case, the agreement will survive
the transition to the year 2047. Yet Beijing has maintained that while.
before 1997 Hong Kong is a matter for Britain and China, after 1997 it
will become China's internal affair. I am not aware of any British
response to this doubtful proposition.
If Britain wishes to bolster confidence in Hong Kong, it should make clear
to Hong Kong, to China and to the rest of the world that it is prepared to
play its part after 1997 to ensure that the provisions of the Joint
Declaration will be observed. The British Government should indicate what
steps it is prepared to take in the event of non-compliance, including
referral to the International Court of Justice in the Hague.
As the Joint Declaration was registered at the United Nations, the
kindirim. international community too will have an interest in monitoring how the
agreement is implemented.
Attempts by the United States Congress to
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.