TNAG-2608-FCO40-3799-International-support-from-the-USA-regarding-the-future-of-H-1992 — Page 70

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ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR SOME TIME TO COME.

HONG KONG HAS TAKEN STEPS TO FORMALIZE ITS COMMITMENT TO

LAST YEAR, HONG KONG RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF ITS RESIDENTS.

PASSED A BILL OF RIGHTS AND IS REVIEWING AND REVISING ITS LAWS TO ENSURE THAT THEY FULLY CONFORM TO INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED

STANDARDS OF HUMAN RIGHTS.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, HONG KONG VOTERS WENT TO THE POLLS LAST SEPTEMBER TO ELECT 18 OF THE TERRITORY'S SIXTY LEGISLATIVE

THESE ELECTIONS WERE AN IMPORTANT STEP IN

COUNCIL MEMBERS.

ADVANCING THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

AS A RESULT, THE UNITED

DEMOCRATS (UDHK), LED BY MR. MARTIN LEE, AND PARTIES ALLIED

WITH IT ALL OF WHOM ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING RIGOROUS ADHERENCE TO THE LETTER AND THE SPIRIT OF THE 1984 SINO-BRITISH

NOW HOLD 17 OF THE 18 DIRECTLY ELECTED

JOINT DECLARATION

SEATS.

SINO-U.K. JOINT DECLARATION

IN 1984, CHINA AND BRITAIN SETTLED THE FUTURE STATUS OF HONG KONG AND DETAILED THE BASIC POLICIES OF THE PRC REGARDING HONG KONG IN THE JOINT DECLARATION, A FORMAL INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT. CHINA WILL RESUME THE EXERCISE OF SOVEREIGNTY OVER HONG KONG, WHICH WILL BE GOVERNED AS A SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF CHINA UNTIL AT LEAST THE YEAR 2047. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HONG KONG'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS

AND DEFENSE, JUST AS THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS THOSE