TNAG-2714-FCO40-3920-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1993 — Page 31

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SELECT COMMITTEE 14 JULY 93

On the question of the pace of the work, of course we are

concerned that unless there is a fairly dramatic increase in the

pace of the work of the Joint Liaison Group it will be difficult

for it to complete its work by 1 July 1997, a lot of it is legal

and technical but if it is not completed in time it could have a

considerable impact on Hong Kong. For example, future Hong Kong

authorities would not be able to seek extradition for fugitives

who flee; Hong Kong businessmen are clearly concerned if

they were unable to have verdicts in Hong Kong enforced by the

courts of its major trading partners. So it is an extremely

important point, if I may say so, that you have raised, the

Foreign Secretary raised it in Peking last week and we will

continue to press for the work of the JLG to be speeded up.

Post-1997, of course the Joint Liaison Group will continue to meet

until the year 2,000 and as a party to the Joint Declaration we

have the responsibility with China of ensuring that the Joint

Declaration is implemented and we have the right to raise with the

Chinese any occasions in which we believe that the Joint

Declaration is not being properly implemented.

In terms of

freedoms and liberties we of course have passed a bill of rights

which gives effect to the international covenant on civil and

political rights in Hong Kong law and the Chinese are committed to

maintaining those provisions. So, as I say, the JLG will

continue to 2,000 and we will play an active part in it.

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