Select Committee on Foreign Affairs Third Report


RELATIONS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINA

57. The Joint Declaration guarantees Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy. Under "one country, two systems", the HKSAR Government is responsible for all aspects except foreign and defence affairs. These remain the responsibility of the Central People's Government.[107] Nonetheless, concerns have been expressed that the Central People's Government may seek covertly to influence the actions of the HKSAR Government.

58. The Government considers that the Central People's Government has generally respected Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy. Since the restoration of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty on 30 June 1997, SAR Government officials have said that Hong Kong has so far been left to run its own economic, financial and trade policy, including in export controls. Participation in international organisations and relations with third countries in the economic and social fields have continued to be dealt with by the SAR Government. Day to day decisions have been left to it. The People's Liberation Army Garrison in Hong Kong has kept a low profile. Since the handover Chinese leaders have stressed the principles of "one country, two systems" and "Hong Kong people running Hong Kong". However, the Government also commented that many decisions taken by the SAR Government after 30 June 1997 were in effect preordained by the Chinese People's Government before the handover through the Beijing-appointed Preparatory Committee. In this way parameters were established within which the SAR Government was obliged to work, notably in relation to the formation of the Provisional Legislative Council, the arrangements for elections to the first SAR Legislative Council, and decisions on certain pieces of domestic Hong Kong legislation relating to public order and human rights.

59. The Central People's Government has agreed to transmit to the United Nations without amendment reports drafted by the HKSAR Government on Hong Kong under the ICCPR and ICESCR[108] (notwithstanding that the People's Republic of China is not yet a signatory to the ICCPR). The first such reports will be transmitted in August.[109] We welcome this undertaking.

60. The HKSAR Government's recent report gives further information on the way in which the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office and the HKSAR Government have worked together in the international field.[110] The UK Government has noted the independent action of the HKSAR Government in Hong Kong's economic affairs, notably in defending the peg between the Hong Kong and US dollars. This was also described to us by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority in the course of our visit. Mr Fatchett commented[111] "there are some areas of SAR autonomy that we would very much like to see continue under the Special Administrative Region which are foreign affairs, if you like. I am thinking particularly of the SAR's economic and financial relationships, its relationships with other countries". He also recalled Hong Kong hosting the World Bank Conference in September 1997.

61. We welcome the respect which Beijing has demonstrated thus far to the autonomy in economic policy making of the HKSAR Government under the Joint Declaration. We trust this will continue and look to the Government to continue to monitor this through the Joint Liaison Group.


107   Joint Declaration, Article 3(2). Back

108   The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Back

109   Cm. 4019, para. 13.10. Back

110   Hong Kong SAR: The First 12 Months, p.9. Back

111   Q54. Back


 
previous page contents next page

House of Commons home page Parliament home page House of Lords home page search page enquiries

© Parliamentary copyright 1998
Prepared 7 August 1998