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07-01-2017, 09:07 AM
BEIJING/LONDON: China said on Friday the joint declaration with Britain over Hong Kong, which laid the blueprint over how the city would be ruled after its return to China in 1997, was a historical document that ** longer had any practical significance.
In response, Britain said the declaration remained in force and was a legally valid treaty to which it was committed to upholding.
The stark an**uncement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, that is sure to raise questions over Beijing’s commitment to Hong Kong’s core freedoms, came the same day Chinese President Xi Jinping said in Hong Kong the "one country, two systems" formula was recognised "by the whole world".
It was **t immediately clear if Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang was attacking just the idea of continued British involvement in Hong Kong, which marks the 20th anniversary of Chinese rule on Saturday, or the principles in the document.
The Si**-British Joint Declaration, signed in 1984 by then British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang, laid out how Britain would end its century-and-a-half long rule over Hong Kong. It also guarantees the city’s rights and freedoms under the "two systems" formula.
Under Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, the Basic Law, Hong Kong was guaranteed its freedoms for "at least 50 years" after 1997.Lu told reporters during a regular briefing on Friday that the document ** longer binds China.
"**w Hong Kong has returned to the motherland’s embrace for 20 years, the Si**-British Joint Declaration, as a historical document, ** longer has any practical significance, and it is **t at all binding for the central government’s management over Hong Kong.
The UK has ** sovereignty, ** power to rule and ** power to supervise Hong Kong after the handover," Lu said.
Britain said it had a legal responsibility to ensure China abided by its obligations under the declaration.
"The Si**-British Joint Declaration remains as valid today as it did when it was signed over 30 years ago," a British Foreign ****** spokeswoman said.
"It is a legally binding treaty, registered with the UN and continues to be in force.
As a co-signatory, the UK government is committed to monitoring its implementation closely.
"On Thursday, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Britain hoped that Hong Kong would make more progress towards democracy.
"Britain’s commitment to Hong Kong – enshrined in the Joint Declaration with China – is just as strong today as it was 20 years ago," Johnson said.
"I’ve ** doubt that Hong Kong’s future success will depend on the rights and freedoms protected by that treaty."
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In response, Britain said the declaration remained in force and was a legally valid treaty to which it was committed to upholding.
The stark an**uncement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, that is sure to raise questions over Beijing’s commitment to Hong Kong’s core freedoms, came the same day Chinese President Xi Jinping said in Hong Kong the "one country, two systems" formula was recognised "by the whole world".
It was **t immediately clear if Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang was attacking just the idea of continued British involvement in Hong Kong, which marks the 20th anniversary of Chinese rule on Saturday, or the principles in the document.
The Si**-British Joint Declaration, signed in 1984 by then British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang, laid out how Britain would end its century-and-a-half long rule over Hong Kong. It also guarantees the city’s rights and freedoms under the "two systems" formula.
Under Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, the Basic Law, Hong Kong was guaranteed its freedoms for "at least 50 years" after 1997.Lu told reporters during a regular briefing on Friday that the document ** longer binds China.
"**w Hong Kong has returned to the motherland’s embrace for 20 years, the Si**-British Joint Declaration, as a historical document, ** longer has any practical significance, and it is **t at all binding for the central government’s management over Hong Kong.
The UK has ** sovereignty, ** power to rule and ** power to supervise Hong Kong after the handover," Lu said.
Britain said it had a legal responsibility to ensure China abided by its obligations under the declaration.
"The Si**-British Joint Declaration remains as valid today as it did when it was signed over 30 years ago," a British Foreign ****** spokeswoman said.
"It is a legally binding treaty, registered with the UN and continues to be in force.
As a co-signatory, the UK government is committed to monitoring its implementation closely.
"On Thursday, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Britain hoped that Hong Kong would make more progress towards democracy.
"Britain’s commitment to Hong Kong – enshrined in the Joint Declaration with China – is just as strong today as it was 20 years ago," Johnson said.
"I’ve ** doubt that Hong Kong’s future success will depend on the rights and freedoms protected by that treaty."
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أكثر... (http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/World-TheNewsInternational/~3/Mnkt6bjuGz8/213596-Si**-UK-declaration-on-HK-has-**-meaning)