The return of Hong Kong to China in 1997 and Hong Kong's demarcation

Abstract

The designation of Hong Kong as a Special Administrative Region (SAR) by China in the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration in December 1984 that guarantees "one country, two systems" for 50 years after July 1997 is the recognition of the importance to maintain prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region prepared and enacted by the National People's Congress (NPA) in April 1990 was to protect the autonomy in domestic affairs of Hong Kong after it becomes a SAR in July 1997. Hong Kong SAR will be governed by an authority mainly consisted of local inhabitants. It will possess its own executive, legislative and independent judicial power, including its own court of appeal. China will assume responsibility for Hong Kong SAR's defence and foreign affairs, while the local government will be in charge of public order. Hong Kong will continue to decide its own economic and trade policies and maintain its existing capitalistic system. The maintenance of local autonomy undoubtedly is very important for the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. But prosperity and stability cannot be achieved if the Demarcation of Hong Kong cannot be maintained. There are 1. 2 billion of people across the Demarcation of Hong Kong. Because of the big difference in income and living standards, there is a strong desire of people across the Demarcation to come to Hong Kong. The influx of a small percentage of these 1. 2 billion of people to Hong Kong will cause great problems to the housing, education, welfare, employment, and transport system in Hong Kong, overturning its prosperity and stability. The Demarcation of Hong Kong is covered under Article 116 which specifies that Hong Kong SAR shall be a separate custom territory. It is also covered under Article 22 which specifies that departments of the Central People's Government as well as provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government shall not interfere with the affairs of the Hong Kong SAR. People from other parts of China must apply for approval for entry into the Hong Kong SAR. But is this adequate to maintain the Demarcation of Hong Kong? This paper attempts to discuss the importance of the Demarcation in maintaining the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong after it becomes a SAR and explores some of the issues related to the planning and management of the Demarcation area.

保持香港繁榮與穩定的重要性已在１９８４年的中英聯合聲明中得到保證。在１９９７年７月之后，香港將回歸祖國而成為中國的特別行政區，并且實行“一國兩制”５０年不變，從而保持香港現有的繁榮。毋庸置疑，保持香港高度內部事務的自主權對香港的繼續繁榮和穩定關系重要。然而一旦港深管理線不復存在，其繁榮和穩定也就難以實現。本文旨在探討港深管理線在香港成為特別行政區后對保持香港的繁榮和穩定的重要性和香港于１９９７年回歸后這條管理線及其接壤地區的規劃問題。