Honour promises in Joint Declaration

What is important is not so much the legal status of the treaty, but the need for its promises – now entrenched in the Basic Law – to continue to be honoured

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The Chinese national flag appears on a screen to mark the 20th handover anniversary at Victoria Habour in Hong Kong. Photo: AP

Published: 4:15am, 13 Jul 2017Updated: 9:20am, 13 Jul 2017

Hong Kong’s return to China 20 years ago was triggered by an extraordinary legal document. The Joint Declaration, sealed by China and Britain in 1984, provided a vision of Hong Kong that remains largely accurate today. The treaty set out the core principles of the “one country, two systems” concept, establishing China’s sovereignty over the city from July 1, 1997. It also provided reassurance for Hong Kong people, promising the city a high degree of autonomy, protection of rights and freedoms, a continuation of capitalism and an unchanged way of life for 50 years.

The agreement, which includes a detailed annex, covered a wide variety of issues, from governance, to the economy, the legal system, and the city’s status as a financial centre.

There is no doubting the historic importance of the Joint Declaration. It formed the basis for the Basic Law, the city’s de facto constitution, and there is much overlap between the two documents. But there has been debate about the status and relevance of the treaty since the handover. China has played down its significance, arguing that its obligations under the treaty were met once the Basic Law came into force.