Original Text of the Sino-British Joint Declaration

Joint Declaration of the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the Question of Hong Kong

(December 19, 1984)

The Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, recalling with satisfaction the friendly relations between the two Governments and peoples in recent years, have, after consultations, agreed to declare as follows:

1. The Government of the People’s Republic of China declares: The recovery of the Hong Kong area (including Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the “New Territories”, hereinafter referred to as Hong Kong) is the common aspiration of the entire Chinese people. The Government of the People’s Republic of China has decided to resume the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong with effect from 1 July 1997.

2. The Government of the United Kingdom declares: The Government of the United Kingdom will restore Hong Kong to the People’s Republic of China with effect from 1 July 1997.

3. The Government of the People’s Republic of China declares that the basic policies of the People’s Republic of China regarding Hong Kong are as follows:

1. In order to uphold the unity and territorial integrity of the country and taking into account the history and realities of Hong Kong, the People’s Republic of China has decided that, upon resuming the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will be established in accordance with the provisions of Article 31 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China.
2. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will be directly under the authority of the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China. Except for foreign affairs and defence affairs which are the responsibility of the Central People’s Government, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will enjoy a high degree of autonomy.
3. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will be vested with executive, legislative and independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication. The laws currently in force in Hong Kong will remain basically unchanged.
4. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will be composed of local inhabitants. The Chief Executive will be appointed by the Central People’s Government on the basis of the results of elections or consultations to be held locally. Principal officials will be nominated by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and appointed by the Central People’s Government. Chinese and foreign nationals previously serving in the public service, including the police force, in the government departments of Hong Kong may remain in employment. British and other foreign nationals may be employed as advisers or in certain public posts in government departments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
5. The current social and economic systems in Hong Kong will remain unchanged, and so will the way of life. The rights and freedoms, including those of the person, of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of travel, of movement, of correspondence, of strike, of choice of occupation, of academic research and of religious belief will be ensured by law in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Private property, ownership of enterprises, legitimate rights of inheritance and foreign investment will be protected by law.
6. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will retain the status of a free port and a separate customs territory.
7. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will retain the status of an international financial centre, and its markets for foreign exchange, gold, securities and futures will continue to operate. There will be free flow of capital. The Hong Kong dollar will continue to circulate and be freely convertible.
8. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will have independent finances. The Central People’s Government will not levy taxes on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
9. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region may establish mutually beneficial economic relations with the United Kingdom and other countries. The economic interests of the United Kingdom and other countries in Hong Kong will be taken into account.
10. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region may, using the name “Hong Kong, China”, maintain and develop economic and cultural relations and conclude relevant agreements with states, regions and relevant international organizations. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region may issue its own travel documents for entry into and exit from Hong Kong.
11. The maintenance of public order in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will be the responsibility of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
12. The above-stated basic policies of the People’s Republic of China regarding Hong Kong and the elaboration of them in Annex I to this Joint Declaration will be stipulated in the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, by the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China, and they will remain unchanged for 50 years.

4. The Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the United Kingdom declare: During the transitional period between the date of the entry into force of this Joint Declaration and 30 June 1997, the Government of the United Kingdom will be responsible for the administration of Hong Kong with the objective of maintaining and preserving its economic prosperity and social stability; and that the Government of the People’s Republic of China will give its cooperation in this connection.

5. The Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the United Kingdom declare: In order to ensure the effective implementation of this Joint Declaration and with a view to the smooth transfer of government in 1997, a Sino-British Joint Liaison Group will be established when this Joint Declaration enters into force; and that the Joint Liaison Group will be established and will function in accordance with the provisions of Annex II to this Joint Declaration.

6. The Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the United Kingdom declare: Matters relating to land leases and other related matters will be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of Annex III to this Joint Declaration.

7. The Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the United Kingdom agree that all the above-stated declarations and the Annexes to this Joint Declaration shall be implemented.

8. This Joint Declaration shall be approved and shall enter into force on the date of the exchange of instruments of ratification, which shall take place in Beijing before 30 June 1985. This Joint Declaration and its Annexes shall be equally binding.

Signed in Beijing on 19 December 1984, in duplicate in the Chinese and English languages, both texts being equally authentic.