Hong Kong (Hansard, 22 March 2004)

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

We continue to follow developments in Hong Kong closely to ensure that the principles of the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong, which promised a high degree of autonomy for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) except in foreign and defence affairs, are adhered to. We assess that, generally, the "One Country, Two Systems" approach enshrined in the joint declaration is working well. Where we have had concerns since the handover that the principles of the joint declaration might be undermined, we have raised them with the SAR Government, or Beijing, as appropriate.

Our position on constitutional reform in Hong Kong, provisions on which are contained in the Basic Law of the SAR, has been consistent and was restated in the most recent six-monthly report to Parliament (Cm 6125 of February 2004). We hope to see early progress towards the Basic Law's ultimate aims of the selection of the chief executive and election of all members of the Legislative Council by universal suffrage, at a pace in line with the wishes of the people of Hong Kong. We have made this position clear on many occasions to the Chinese authorities and to the Hong Kong SAR Government.