TNAG-2619-FCO40-3810-Official-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 94

Basic Law

4.

The Basic Law, to come into force on 1 July 1997, will

be a constitutional charter for Hong Kong. It provides

under the Chinese constitution for the establishment of the

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in accordance with the provisions of the Joint Declaration. It was promulgated

in April 1990 by the Chinese National People's Congress after nearly 5 years' work by the Basic Law Drafting Committee composed of Hong Kong and mainland Chinese

members.

Joint Liaison Group

5. The main forum for implementation of the Joint Declaration is the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group (JLG).

The JLG meets at least three times a year in plenary session

(in London, Hong Kong and Peking). There are also frequent

informal contacts between the British and Chinese permanent

JLG offices in Hong Kong. The main function of the JLG is

to agree on the necessary legal and practical steps required

to implement the Joint Declaration and to ensure a smooth

transfer of sovereignty in 1997. Much of its work is

technical in nature, concerning, for example, the

continuation of Hong Kong's international rights and

obligations beyond 1997.

Bill of Rights

6.

The Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance became law on

Anyone who

8 June 1991. The Bill incorporates into local law the

relevant provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as applied to Hong Kong.

believes their rights under the Convenant have been

infringed will now be able to seek redress in the local

courts. Both the Joint Declaration and Article 39 of the

Basic Law provide for the continued application of the

Covenant to Hong Kong after 1997.

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