HC Deb 26 July 1985 vol 83 cc904-5W
Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the first meeting of the British-Chinese joint liaison group's discussions on the future of Hong Kong.

Mr. Anderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the minutes of the first meeting of the joint liaison group and indicate by what means he proposes to keep the House and the Hong Kong people informed of progress

Mr. Ashdown

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to make a statement on the progress of the joint liaison group talks on Hong Kong; and when the next meeting of the group will be.

Mr. Luce

The following communiqué was issued on 25 July, on the conclusion of the first meeting of the Sirto-British Joint Liaison GroupBegins The Sino-British Joint Liaison Group held its first meeting in London from 22 to 25 July 1985.— The atmosphere was friendly and co-operative. The two sides discussed and established working procedures for the Group. In accordance with the provision of paragraph 4 of Annex II to the Sino-British Joint Declaration, the Group held a wide-ranging discussion on Hong Kong's external economic relations. Among other things they discussed the question of how Hong Kong should continue, as a Special Administrative Region, its participation in the GATT, Multifibre Arrangements, and other international arrangements. The Group exchanged ideas on the working procedures for examining the continued application of international rights and obligations to Hong Kong. The Group attached great importance to the role of the GATT and MFA in Hong Kong's economic development, particularly in its external trade activities. Both sides expressed their wishth to cooperate closely to ensure the maintenance of Hong Kong's participation in the above international arrangements. The Group will continue its work on these subjects. The Group decided that the next meeting would take place in Beijing from 26 to 29 November 1985. Ends

The House and the people of Hong Kong will be kept as fully informed about progress made in the group as is possible in view of the stipulation in annex II, paragraph 10 of the joint declaration that the proceedings of the group shall remain confidential unless otherwise agreed between the two sides. There will be an annual report to the House on Hong Kong.

Mr. Latham

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether experts and supporting staff of the joint liaison group, and members and supporting staff of the Land Commission, established under the Sino-British joint declaration on the question of Hong Kong, will be accorded privileges and immunities in the same way as members of the joint liaison group; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Luce

Arrangements to provide privileges and immunities for members of the joint liaison group, including the enactment of legislation in the United Kingdom and in Hong Kong, were made before the Sino-British joint declaration was ratified. A subsequent exchange of letters between the British chargé d'affaires and a Chinese Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs took place in Peking on 26 July. In accordance with the terms of this exchange, appropriate privileges and immunities will be granted to experts and supporting staff of the joint liaison group at meetings in Peking, London and Hong Kong. In London and Peking such experts and supporting staff will be appointed temporarily as members of their respective Embassies. Appropriate privileges and immunities will also be granted to members and supporting staff of the Land Commission which has been established in Hong Kong.

I am arranging for a copy of this exhange of letters to be laid in the Library of the House.