Topics Covered: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
What is the Sino-British Joint Declaration?
Context:
Britain has accused China of breaking its international treaty obligations, after four pro-democracy lawmakers were ousted from Hong Kong’s legislature on security grounds.
- Britain said the new rules to disqualify elected assembly members was “a clear breach of the legally binding Sino-British Joint Declaration”.
What is it?
- It is an agreement signed by Britain and China in 1984 to settle the future of Hong Kong.
- The two governments agreed China would reassume control of Hong Kong, which was occupied by Britain after the Opium War in 1840, from July 1, 1997.
- The declaration was later deposited with the United Nations.
What are the main points of the joint declaration?
- It states that China’s basic policies regarding Hong Kong which “will remain unchanged for 50 years”, including the promise that the city would retain a high degree of autonomy.
- It also states that Hong Kong’s legal and judicial system would also be unchanged for 50 years after 1997.
- It held that Britain would be would be responsible for the administration of Hong Kong until 1997 and the Chinese government would give its cooperation.
Is the joint declaration still valid now that Beijing governs Hong Kong?
The high degree of autonomy that Beijing pledged to grant Hong Kong has been a thorny subject since the 1997 handover.
The issue was exacerbated in June 2014 when the State Council released a white paper stating that Beijing had “comprehensive jurisdiction” over Hong Kong.
- Now, China says the declaration was “now void and covered only the period from the signing in 1984 until the handover in 1997”.
- But, the Britain argues the agreement remained in effect and was a legally binding agreement that must be honoured.
InstaLinks:
Prelims Link:
- Geographical location of Hong Kong.
- What is one country two systems rule?
- Relationship of Macau with China.
- About Sino-Britain declaration.
Sources: the Hindu.
