ENG-1987 — Page 59

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IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION

appropriate status, which would continue after 1997, the British and Chinese sides agreed at the sixth meeting of the JLG that Hong Kong should become a member of the CCC.

To secure this objective, the United Kingdom proposed to the CCC Secretary-General that in accordance with Article II(a)(ii) of the Convention establishing the CCC, Hong Kong should be admitted as a separate member of the CCC. The Government of the People's Republic of China made a parallel declaration, making it clear that if Hong Kong were admitted as a separate member of the council, the Hong Kong SAR might, using the name 'Hong Kong, China', continue such membership with effect from July 1, 1997.

Following these declarations, at a meeting of the CCC in Ottawa on June 25, 1987, the CCC approved the admission of Hong Kong as a member. As a result of the JLG's efforts over the past years Hong Kong now has, and will retain after 1997, a separate standing in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, the Multi-Fibre Arrangement and the CCC, and is thus better placed to protect its own interests in world trade both before and after 1997.

Right of Abode and Travel Documents

Agreement was reached in the JLG in 1986 that British National (Overseas) - BNO - passports and Certificates of Identity issued from July 1, 1987 would include an endorse- ment indicating that the holder had a permanent identity card which stated that he had the right of abode in Hong Kong. At the sixth meeting of the JLG, the group confirmed specific principles concerning legal aspects of the right of abode endorsement in these travel documents. With effect from July 1, 1987, BNO passports and Certificates of Identity containing the right of abode endorsement were issued. These would remain valid for the normal 10-year period from the date of issue.

In the case of Documents of Identity, of which there are about 360 000 in circulation, agreement was also reached at the sixth meeting of the JLG that such documents issued before July 1, 1997 would continue to have, as before, a seven-year validity and would remain valid after June 30, 1997 until expiry.

Air Service Agreements

A common view was reached at the fourth meeting of the JLG regarding procedures for separating Hong Kong's interests from existing United Kingdom Air Service Agreements (ASAs). The first 'separate' Hong Kong ASA was signed with the Netherlands on September 17, 1986 and entered into force on June 26, 1987. Negotiations on a number of other Hong Kong ASAs continued throughout the year, and progress was further discussed at the eighth meeting of the JLG.

New Pension Scheme for Civil Service

At the fifth meeting of the JLG, a thorough discussion of the Hong Kong Government's proposals to modernise pension arrangements for the civil service took place. These proposals, which would have financial and other implications for the government of the Special Administrative Region after June 30, 1997, were designed to contribute towards maintaining a stable and efficient civil service, an objective which the JLG recognised as being of great importance. Full agreement on the proposals was reached in the JLG and the new pension scheme came into effect on July 1, 1987, following the enactment of the Pension Benefits Ordinance. A significant feature of the scheme is the raising of the retirement age from 55 to 60, in keeping with working-life expectancy.