View source for Sino-British Joint Declaration

{{Short description|1984 British-Chinese treaty regarding the transfer of Hong Kong}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox Treaty
| name = Sino-British Joint Declaration<br />{{nobold|{{lang|zh|中英联合声明}}}}
| long_name = Joint Declaration of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the People's Republic of China on the Question of Hong Kong{{NoteTag|name=ChineseUKname}}
| image = Great Hall of the People 人民大会堂 (Tomoaki INABA) - Flickr.jpg
| caption = The [[Great Hall of the People]], where the Joint Declaration was signed
| context = Agreement on the future of Hong Kong
| date_drafted = June 1984 to {{start date and age|1984|09|df=yes}}
| date_signed = {{start date and age|1984|12|19|df=yes}}
| negotiators = British delegation led by [[Percy Cradock]] and [[Richard Evans (British diplomat)|Richard Evans]], Chinese delegation led by [[Yao Guang]] and [[Zhou Nan]]
| signatories = * {{flagicon|UK}} [[Margaret Thatcher]], [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]]
* {{flagicon|China}} [[Zhao Ziyang]], [[Premier of the People's Republic of China|Premier of the State Council of People's Republic of China]]
| location_signed = [[Great Hall of the People]], Beijing, China
| date_effective = {{start date and age|1985|07|27|df=yes}}
| condition_effective = Exchange of ratifications
| date_expiry = ''(See [[#Dispute over treaty status|dispute over treaty status]])''
| parties = * {{nowrap|{{flag|UK|name=United Kingdom}}}}
* {{China}}
| languages = * [[English language|English]]
* [[Standard Chinese|Chinese]]
| wikisource = Sino-British Joint Declaration
}}
{{Chinese
| title = Sino–British Joint Declaration
| t = 中英聯合聲明
| s = 中英联合声明
<!--Yue-->| j = Zung<sup>1</sup>-Jing<sup>1</sup> Lyun<sup>4</sup>hap<sup>6</sup> Sing<sup>1</sup>ming<sup>4</sup>
| y = Jūng-yīng lyùhnhahp singmìhng
| ci = {{IPA|yue|tsʊ́ŋjɪ́ŋ ly̏ːnhɐ̀p ɕɪ́ŋmɪ̏ŋ|}}
<!--Hakka-->| h = Zung<sup>1</sup>-Yin<sup>1</sup> Lien<sup>2</sup>hap<sup>6</sup> Sang<sup>1</sup>min<sup>2</sup>
<!--Mandarin-->| p = Zhōng-Yīng Liánhé Shēngmíng
| w = Chung<sup>1</sup>-Ying<sup>1</sup> Lien<sup>2</sup>-ho<sup>2</sup> Sheng<sup>1</sup>-ming<sup>2</sup>
| altname = Joint Declaration of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the People's Republic of China on the Question of Hong Kong{{NoteTag|name=ChineseUKname|For the official name of the declaration, the English-language document has the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland named first, whilst the Chinese-language document has the Government of the People's Republic of China named first.}}
| t2 = 中華人民共和國政府和大不列顛及北愛爾蘭聯合王國政府關於香港問題的聯合聲明
| s2 = 中华人民共和国政府和大不列颠及北爱尔兰联合王国政府关于香港问题的联合声明
<!--Yue-->| j2 = Zung<sup>1</sup>waa<sup>4</sup> Jan<sup>4</sup>man<sup>4</sup> Gung<sup>6</sup>wo<sup>4</sup>gwok<sup>3</sup> zing<sup>3</sup>fu<sup>2</sup> wo<sup>4</sup> Daai<sup>6</sup> Bak<sup>1</sup>lit<sup>6</sup>din<sup>1</sup> kap<sup>6</sup> Bak<sup>1</sup> Oi<sup>3</sup>ji<sup>5</sup>laan<sup>4</sup> Lyun<sup>4</sup>hap<sup>6</sup> Wong<sup>4</sup>gwok<sup>3</sup> zing<sup>3</sup>fu<sup>2</sup> gwaan<sup>1</sup>jyu<sup>1</sup> Hoeng<sup>1</sup>gong<sup>2</sup> Man<sup>6</sup>tai<sup>4</sup> dik<sup>1</sup> Lyun<sup>4</sup>hap<sup>6</sup> Sing<sup>1</sup>ming<sup>4</sup>
| y2 = Jūngwàah Jàhnmàhn Guhngwòhgwok jing fú wòh daaih bāk liht dīn kahp bāk oi yíh làahn lyùhn hahp wòhng gwok jing fú gwāan yū heùng góng mahn taìh dīk lyùhn hahp sīng mìhng
<!--Hakka-->| h2 = Zung<sup>1</sup>fa<sup>2</sup> Ngin<sup>2</sup>min<sup>2</sup> Kiung<sup>4</sup>fo<sup>2</sup>get<sup>5</sup>(''{{small|or}}'' gok<sup>5</sup>) zin<sup>4</sup>fu<sup>3</sup> fo<sup>2</sup> Tai<sup>4</sup> But<sup>5</sup>liet<sup>6</sup>dien<sup>1</sup> kip<sup>6</sup> Bet<sup>5</sup> Oi<sup>4</sup>li<sup>3</sup>(''{{small|or}}'' ni<sup>3</sup>)lan<sup>2</sup> Lien<sup>2</sup>hap<sup>6</sup> Vong<sup>2</sup>get<sup>5</sup>(''{{small|or}}'' gok<sup>5</sup>) zin<sup>4</sup>fu<sup>3</sup> gan<sup>1</sup>yi<sup>1</sup> Hiong<sup>1</sup>gong<sup>3</sup> Mun<sup>4</sup>ti<sup>2</sup> dit<sup>5</sup>(''{{small|or}}'' e<sup>4</sup>) Lien<sup>2</sup>hap<sup>6</sup> Sang<sup>1</sup>min<sup>2</sup>
<!--Mandarin-->| p2 = Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó zhèngfŭ hé Dà Búlièdiàn jí Běi Ài'ěrlán Liánhé Wángguó zhèngfŭ guānyú Xiānggǎng Wèntí de Liánhé Shēngmíng
}} 

The '''Sino-British Joint Declaration''' was a [[treaty]] between the governments of the [[United Kingdom]] and [[People's Republic of China]] signed in 1984 setting the conditions in which [[Hong Kong]] was [[Handover of Hong Kong|transferred to Chinese control]] and for the governance of the territory after 1 July 1997.

Hong Kong had been a [[British Hong Kong|colony of the British Empire]] since 1842 after the [[First Opium War]] and its territory was expanded on two occasions; first in 1860 with the addition of [[Kowloon Peninsula]] and [[Stonecutters Island]], as both were ceded in [[perpetuity]], and again in 1898 when Britain obtained a [[Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory|99-year lease]] for the [[New Territories]]. The date of the handover in 1997 marked the end of this lease.

The Chinese government declared in the treaty its basic policies for governing Hong Kong after the transfer. A [[special administrative regions of China|special administrative region]] would be established in the territory that would be self-governing with a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign affairs and defence. Hong Kong would maintain its existing governing and economic systems separate from that of [[mainland China]] under the principle of "[[one country, two systems]]". This blueprint would be elaborated on in the [[Hong Kong Basic Law]] (the post-handover regional constitution) and the central government's policies for the territory were to remain unchanged for a period of 50 years after 1997.

China has stated since 2014 that it considers the treaty to be [[spent enactment|spent]] with no further legal effect, while the United Kingdom maintains that the document remains binding in operation. Following China's 2020 imposition of [[2020 Hong Kong national security law|national security legislation on Hong Kong]] and a 2021 [[National People's Congress]] decision to [[2021 Hong Kong electoral reform|approve a rework of local election laws]] that reduces the number of [[Legislative Council of Hong Kong|regional legislature]] [[Geographical constituency|seats elected by the public]], the UK has declared China as being in a "state of ongoing non-compliance" with the Joint Declaration.

Since 2017, China deemed the document expired and invalid as of 30 June 1997, while the UK continues to believe that it remains effective.<ref name="historical"></ref>

== Background ==
{{Main|British Hong Kong|History of Hong Kong|China–United Kingdom relations}}

=== Phases of colonial expansion ===
{{See also|Treaty of Nanking|Convention of Beijing|Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory}}
[[File:Acquisition of Hong Kong.svg|thumb|Britain acquired [[Hong Kong Island]] in 1842, [[Kowloon Peninsula]] in 1860, and leased the [[New Territories]] in 1898 for 99 years.]]

Hong Kong became a British colony in 1842 after the [[Qing dynasty]]'s defeat in the [[First Opium War]]. The territory initially consisted only of [[Hong Kong Island]] and was expanded to include [[Kowloon Peninsula]] and [[Stonecutters Island]] in 1860 after another Qing loss in the [[Second Opium War]].{{sfn|Carroll|2007|pp=16, 21–24}}

After this addition, the British government resisted calls by colonial officials and merchants for further expansion into China, deciding to cease territorial acquisitions in the area. However, as [[German Empire|Germany]], [[Empire of Japan|Japan]], and [[Russian Empire|Russia]] coerced China into granting [[Concessions in China|concessions]] in the late 1890s, Britain considered another expansion of Hong Kong to bolster the colony's defence against attack from these other [[great power]]s.{{sfn|Carroll|2007|pp=67–69}} When [[French Third Republic|France]] obtained a lease for [[Guangzhouwan]], only {{convert|210|mi|km}} away from Hong Kong,{{sfn|Becker|2019|p=182}} Britain entered into negotiations with the Qing to acquire the [[New Territories]] as a compensatory concession in 1898. The British negotiator considered the 99-year lease term to be sufficiently suggestive that the ceded area would be a permanent cession,{{sfn|Becker|2019|pp=191–192}} which was granted rent-free.{{sfn|Carroll|2007|p=69}}

=== Potential lease renegotiations ===
Hong Kong Governor [[Frederick Lugard]] first proposed renegotiating the lease as a formal cession in 1909 in return for restoring [[British Weihaiwei|Weihaiwei]] to China. Although the [[Colonial Office|Colonial]] and [[Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office|Foreign Offices]] considered this, the plan was never brought to the Chinese government before Weihaiwei was transferred to the [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]] in 1930. Alternate plans that involved offering China a substantial loan and settling land disputes on the [[British rule in Burma|Burmese]] border were suggested, but these ideas similarly did not progress past discussion. The start of the [[World War II|Second World War]] and ensuing [[Japanese occupation of Hong Kong]] stifled  further debate on obtaining a cession.{{sfn|Wesley-Smith|1997|pp=423–424}} The British government initially prepared for the possibility of having to relinquish Hong Kong after the war, but moved towards retaining the colony over the course of the conflict. Hong Kong returned to British control in 1945.{{sfn|Wesley-Smith|1997|p=425}}{{sfn|Carroll|2007|pp=127–129}}

In the immediate post-war period, the [[Nationalist government]] continued this dialogue with the British about the future of Hong Kong, which included discussions of a full retrocession and proposals of turning the colony into an [[international city]]. However, communist victory in the [[Chinese Civil War]] made a transfer of Hong Kong to the Nationalists an increasingly unlikely scenario, and the status quo was maintained.{{sfn|Wesley-Smith|1997|pp=427–429, 435}}

=== Coexistence with the People's Republic ===
Although communist troops marched up to the border with Hong Kong, they did not try to forcefully take the colony. Initial engagement between the colonial and new Chinese authorities were largely friendly and cooperative. While it was clear that the long-term goal of the communists was to absorb the territory, they chose to take no action on the issue in the near-term. The Chinese were content with the political status of the colony for the time being so long as no efforts were made to introduce democratic development in the territory; they were simply hostile to the idea of a potentially independent Hong Kong.{{sfn|Wesley-Smith|1997|pp=436–441}} In 1972, China successfully petitioned the [[United Nations]] to remove Hong Kong from its [[United Nations list of non-self-governing territories|list of non-self-governing territories]], and declared that the colony was a "Chinese territory under British administration". The United Kingdom did not raise any objections to this and the local population did not think the move was significant, but the implication of this change was that Communist China alone would determine the territory's future, excluding the people of Hong Kong.{{sfn|Carroll|2007|pp=176–177}}

Post-war Hong Kong experienced rapid economic growth through the 1950s as it industrialised into a manufacturing-based export economy.{{sfn|Carroll|2007|pp=143–144}} This development continued through the following decades bolstered by a strong trading network, robust banking and financial systems, and an educated and growing workforce supplemented by continuing immigration from mainland China.{{sfn|Carroll|2007|pp=162–163}} As the [[Cultural Revolution]] embroiled mainland China beginning in 1966, [[Pro-Beijing camp (Hong Kong)#Pro-CCP leftists|local communists in Hong Kong]] started a series of demonstrations against colonial rule that escalated into the [[1967 Hong Kong riots]].{{sfn|Carroll|2007|pp=150–153}} However, the disturbances never gained local support and the subsequent restoration of public order conversely resulted in the colonial government achieving increased popularity among the territory's residents.{{sfn|Carroll|2007|pp=156–158}} By the late 1970s, Hong Kong had become one of the largest trading ports and financial centres in the world.{{sfn|So|1986|p=241}}

[[File:Hongkong 1980 (View from Peak).jpg|thumb|left|Urban Hong Kong in 1980]]

=== Approaching deadline ===
Local investors began expressing their concern in the mid-1970s over the long-term viability of continued real estate investment. The colonial government could not legally grant new land leases in the New Territories past 1997 and needed to resolve the uncertainty with the Chinese government.{{sfn|Carroll|2007|p=177}} During an official visit to Beijing in March 1979, Governor [[Murray MacLehose]] raised the issue with Vice Premier [[Deng Xiaoping]]. MacLehose suggested setting aside the 1997 date for land leases and replacing those contracts with ones that were valid for as long as British administration continued in the colony. Deng rejected this suggestion, but he informed the governor that while sovereignty over Hong Kong belonged to China, the territory held a special status that would continue to be respected.{{sfn|Cheung|2010}} MacLehose informed the public that further investment would be safe. Market reaction was optimistic; stock valuations rose and further investment in real estate boosted the value of Hong Kong's land to the highest in the world.{{sfn|Carroll|2007|pp=177–178}}

Just before the start of formal negotiations with China over Hong Kong, Parliament enacted a major reform of [[British nationality law]] – the [[British Nationality Act 1981]]. Prior to the passage of this Act, all citizens of the [[British Empire]] (including Hongkongers) held a common nationality.{{sfn|Hansen|1999|p=78}} Citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKCs) previously had the unrestricted right to enter and live in the UK until 1962,{{sfn|Hansen|1999|p=71}} although non-white immigration was systemically discouraged.{{sfn|Hansen|1999|p=90}} Immigration from the colonies and other [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] countries was gradually restricted by Parliament from 1962 to 1971 amid [[decolonization|decolonisation]], when [[British subject]]s originating from outside of the [[British Islands]] first had immigration controls imposed on them when entering the UK.{{sfn|Evans|1972}} The 1981 Act reclassified CUKCs into different nationality groups based on their ancestry and birthplace,{{sfn|British Nationality Act 1981}} and the vast majority of British subjects in Hong Kong became [[British Overseas Territories citizen|British Dependent Territories citizens]] (BDTCs) with [[Right of abode in Hong Kong|right of abode only in Hong Kong]].{{sfn|1996 Population By-Census|p=31}} Only those reclassified as British citizens held an automatic [[Right of abode in the United Kingdom|right to live in the United Kingdom]].{{sfn|British Nationality Act 1981|loc=s 11}}

== Negotiations ==
Formal negotiations began in September 1982 with the arrival of British Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]] and Hong Kong Governor [[Edward Youde]] in Beijing to meet with Chinese Premier [[Zhao Ziyang]] and [[paramount leader]] [[Deng Xiaoping]].{{sfn|Wren|1982a}} In the initial phase of negotiations from October 1982 to June 1983, the main point of contention was the issue of sovereignty.{{sfn|Carroll|2007|p=180}}{{sfn|Harris|1986|p=48}}

The goals of the Chinese government were made clear from the beginning of the process.{{sfn|Wren|1982b}} China would resume both sovereignty and administration over Hong Kong in 1997.{{sfn|Johnson|1984|p=898}}{{sfn|Chuang|1996|p=211}} It would do this by force if necessary,{{sfn|Carroll|2007|p=180}} but preferred to keep the territory's socioeconomic climate stable to maximize the economic benefits it could reap from the transfer.{{sfn|Carroll|2007|p=179}} Its proposed plan was to establish a special administrative region in the territory that would be governed by local residents and to maintain the existing structures of government and economy in place for as long as 50 years.{{sfn|Johnson|1984|p=898}} Constitutional arrangements had already been made to implement this plan and the Chinese would not accept anything less than a full reversion of Hong Kong.{{sfn|Harris|1986|p=48}}{{sfn|Johnson|1984|p=898}}

=== Sovereignty after 1997 ===
During her first visit to Beijing, Thatcher asserted the continuing validity of British treaty rights for the sovereignty of Hong Kong.{{sfn|Wren|1982b}}{{sfn|Chan|2003|p=500}} The British began negotiations believing that they could secure an extension of the New Territories lease while retaining sovereignty of the ceded areas.{{sfn|Johnson|1984|p=898}} Although the UK had just successfully defended its hold on the [[Falkland Islands]] in a [[Falklands War|war against Argentina]], Hong Kong's proximity to mainland China made a military defence of the territory impossible.{{sfn|Roy|1985|p=169}} Thatcher later recounted that Deng had told her directly "I could walk in and take the whole lot this afternoon", to which she replied, "There is nothing I could do to stop you, but the eyes of the world would now know what China is like."{{sfn|Sheridan|2007}}

{{Multiple image
|direction=horizontal |align=right |caption_align=center |total_width=320
|image1=Margaret Thatcher (1983).jpg |height1=3259 |width1=2444
|image2=Zhao Ziyang (1985).jpg |height2=1716 |width2=1287
|footer=British Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]] and Chinese Premier [[Zhao Ziyang]], signatories to the Joint Declaration
}}

The Chinese pushed back against the assertion of sovereignty rights and insisted that it was not bound by the 19th-century [[unequal treaty|unequal treaties]] that ceded Hong Kong to the UK.{{sfn|Wren|1982b}}{{sfn|Carroll|2007|p=178}} Even if the two sides had agreed on the binding nature of the [[Treaty of Nanking]] and [[Convention of Peking]], the vast majority of the colony's land still would have reverted to China at the conclusion of the New Territories lease.{{sfn|Johnson|1984|p=896}} Because most of the territory's industry was developed there, separating the leased area and returning only that part of the colony to China was economically and logistically infeasible.{{sfn|Chan|2003|p=500}} Negotiations were stalled until Britain conceded that it would relinquish sovereignty over the entire territory.{{sfn|Carroll|2007|p=180}}

=== British attempt to extend administration ===
In the second phase of negotiations, the British attempted to negotiate an extension of their administration in Hong Kong past 1997 in exchange for their acknowledgement of Chinese sovereignty. This was again soundly rejected by the Chinese as unacceptable.{{sfn|Johnson|1984|pp=898–899}} The continued stalled state of negotiations precipitated a drop in investor confidence, causing a sharp decline in local property values{{sfn|Carroll|2007|p=178}} that culminated with the crash of the [[Hong Kong dollar]]'s value on [[Black Saturday (1983)|Black Saturday]] in September 1983.{{sfn|Johnson|1984|pp=898–899}}

The talks were entirely conducted without meaningful input from the people of Hong Kong.{{sfn|Johnson|1984|p=900}} Early in the process, British officials had used the analogy of a "three-legged stool" to describe a scenario where Hong Kong was party to the negotiations with the United Kingdom and China. The Chinese government dismissed this idea, claiming that it already represented the interests of the people of Hong Kong.{{sfn|Carroll|2007|p=180}}{{sfn|Wren|1984a}} Local residents were apprehensive about the prospect of being handed over to Chinese rule and overwhelmingly preferred that Hong Kong remain a British territory;{{sfn|Carroll|2007|p=180}} contemporary opinion polls show that 85 per cent of residents favoured this option.{{sfn|Cheng|1984|p=117}} The [[Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office|Foreign Office]] rejected holding a general referendum on the future of the colony due to vehement opposition from the Chinese{{sfn|Johnson|1984|p=902}} and because it assumed that educating the public on the complexity of the issue would be too difficult.{{sfn|Hau|2021|p=8}} Although the [[Office of the Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils|Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils]] had repeatedly petitioned the British negotiators to insist on continued administration for as long as possible, they were ultimately unsuccessful.{{sfn|Yui|2020|pp=374–376}} By November 1983, the British accepted that they would have no further authority over Hong Kong after 1997.{{sfn|Johnson|1984|p=899}}

=== Nationality and the Joint Liaison Group ===
Negotiations in 1984 centred on nationality and the role of the [[Sino-British Joint Liaison Group|Joint Liaison Group]]. British negotiators and Hong Kong [[Executive Council of Hong Kong|Executive Council]] members wanted to ensure the continued status of Hongkongers as [[British Overseas Territories citizen|British Dependent Territories citizen]]s (BDTCs) after the transfer of sovereignty, but the Chinese would not allow this and even demanded that further granting of BDTC status be halted immediately.{{sfn|Yui|2020|pp=376–377}} Although there were debates in the British Parliament on granting all residents [[British Overseas citizen]]ship that could be transferred to children for up to two generations after 1997,<ref>[[Euan Geddes, 3rd Baron Geddes|Lord Geddes]], {{harvnb|"Hong Kong: Future"}}, col. 112–115.</ref> this was not implemented and the Joint Declaration instead provided for a new status to be created.{{sfn|Sino-British Joint Declaration|loc=United Kingdom Memorandum}} The Chinese initially wanted the Joint Liaison Group to act as an oversight committee during the transition period of administering Hong Kong up to the handover date.{{sfn|Carroll|2007|p=181}} At the insistence of Governor Youde and Executive Council members, the group was limited in its scope to be strictly advisory.{{sfn|Carroll|2007|p=181}}{{sfn|Yui|2020|p=377}}

A bilateral working group was created in June 1984 to draft the text of the treaty and its annexes. This was completed in three months,{{sfn|Tam|Chan|Choi Kwan|Leung|2012|p=13}} and on 26 September 1984, a draft copy of the Joint Declaration was initialed by British Ambassador to China [[Richard Evans (British diplomat)|Richard Evans]] and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister [[Zhou Nan]].{{sfn|Wren|1984b}} The final version was signed on 19 December 1984 by Prime Minister Thatcher and Premier Zhao in the [[Great Hall of the People]] in Beijing;{{sfn|Burns|1984}} the treaty came into force when instruments of ratification were exchanged on 27 May 1985<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=50150 |date=12 June 1985 |page=8075 }}</ref> and was registered at the [[United Nations]] by both governments on 12 June 1985.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Joint Declaration |publisher=[[Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau]] |url=https://www.cmab.gov.hk/en/issues/joint2.htm |access-date=29 October 2021 |archive-date=23 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923171153/https://www.cmab.gov.hk/en/issues/joint2.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Content ==
The Joint Declaration consists of its main text, Annex I elaborating the Chinese government's basic policies for Hong Kong, Annex II concerning plans for the [[Sino–British Joint Liaison Group]], Annex III explaining protections for land leases granted by the colonial government, and two memoranda from each party describing transitional nationality arrangements for local residents.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Joint Declaration and Its Implementation |publisher=[[Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau]] |url=https://www.cmab.gov.hk/en/issues/joint2.htm |date=1 July 2007 |access-date=4 August 2021 |archive-date=23 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923010024/https://www.cmab.gov.hk/en/issues/joint2.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>{{sfn|Sino-British Joint Declaration}}

=== Main text ===
In the main text of the treaty, the Chinese government declared its intention to resume the exercise of its sovereignty over the entire area of Hong Kong (including the ceded areas of [[Hong Kong Island]] and [[Kowloon Peninsula]], as well as the leased [[New Territories]]) on 1 July 1997{{sfn|Sino-British Joint Declaration|loc=s 1}} and the British government agreed to transfer control of the territory on that date.{{sfn|Sino-British Joint Declaration|loc=s 2}} China stated its basic policies for administering the returned area; it would establish a special administrative region that would be autonomous in governing local affairs. The economic, social, governing, and legal systems would remain basically unchanged from as they existed under colonial administration. Hong Kong would remain a separate customs territory with free flow of capital. Civil and property rights would remain protected after the transfer of sovereignty.{{sfn|Sino-British Joint Declaration|loc=s 3}} During the transition period from the date the treaty came into force until 30 June 1997, the United Kingdom would continue to be responsible for administering Hong Kong with the objective of maintaining its economic prosperity and social stability.{{sfn|Sino-British Joint Declaration|loc=s 4}}

=== Annex I: Chinese basic policies for Hong Kong ===
The first annex of the treaty elaborates on the Chinese government's basic policies for Hong Kong. There are 14 policies listed in Annex I, providing a framework under which the post-handover government would be established.{{sfn|Sino-British Joint Declaration|loc=Annex I}} This part of the Joint Declaration provides for economic and administrative continuity through the transfer of sovereignty.{{sfn|Sino-British Joint Declaration|loc=Annex I, art. I, VI}} Executive, legislative, and judicial powers would be devolved by the central government to the special administrative region, which is given a "high degree of autonomy" in exercising those powers in all areas except for defence and diplomatic affairs. The region retains the ability to maintain separate economic and cultural relations with foreign nations. [[Socialism with Chinese characteristics|Socialism]] as practised in mainland China would not be extended to Hong Kong and the territory's capitalist economy and the civil liberties of its residents (such as freedom of speech, assembly, and religion) would be protected and remain unchanged for 50 years.{{sfn|Sino-British Joint Declaration|loc=Annex I, art. I}}

The territory would be allowed to maintain its separate financial markets; the [[Hong Kong dollar]] remains the regional currency.{{sfn|Sino-British Joint Declaration|loc=Annex I, art. VII}} In the areas of civil aviation and maritime shipping, Hong Kong would continue as a separate entity from the mainland.{{sfn|Sino-British Joint Declaration|loc=Annex I, art. VIII, IX}} Education and the maintenance of public order would be the regional government's responsibility.{{sfn|Sino-British Joint Declaration|loc=Annex I, art. X, XII}} [[Right of abode in Hong Kong]] and immigration matters remain separate from mainland China, and the region could issue [[Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport|its own passports]].{{sfn|Sino-British Joint Declaration|loc=Annex I, art. XIII}} All of these policies would be further detailed in the [[Hong Kong Basic Law]], which would stipulate the framework in which the new special administrative region would function.{{sfn|Sino-British Joint Declaration|loc=Annex I, art. I}}

=== Annex II: Sino-British Joint Liaison Group ===
The second annex of the treaty provided for the establishment of the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group, consisting of diplomats from both governments,{{sfn|Sino-British Joint Declaration|loc=Annex II, s 7}} to facilitate ongoing dialogue for the implementation of the Joint Declaration and a smooth transfer of government.{{sfn|Sino-British Joint Declaration|loc=Annex II, s 1}} This group was strictly intended to be a channel of close communication for both parties and did not have authority to supervise or participate in the administration of the territory.{{sfn|Sino-British Joint Declaration|loc=Annex II, s 6}} The Joint Liaison Group was given two specific objectives during the period between its establishment and the transfer of sovereignty. In the first half of this period, it would consider actions necessary to maintain Hong Kong's status as a separate customs territory and ensure continuity of its international rights and obligations.{{sfn|Sino-British Joint Declaration|loc=Annex II, s 4}} During the second half leading up to the handover, the Liaison Group would consider actions needed to ensure a successful transition in 1997 and assist the incoming regional government in developing relations and agreements with other countries and international organisations for economic and cultural purposes.{{sfn|Sino-British Joint Declaration|loc=Annex II, s 5}} The mandate for this group ended on 1 January 2000.{{sfn|Sino-British Joint Declaration|loc=Annex II, s 8}}

=== Annex III: Land leases ===
The third annex of the treaty dealt with the validity of land leases granted by the colonial Hong Kong government. All existing land lease contracts continue to be recognised by the post-handover SAR government.{{sfn|Sino-British Joint Declaration|loc=Annex III, s 1}} All leases without options of renewal that expired before 30 June 1997 could be extended for periods lasting no later than 30 June 2047.{{sfn|Sino-British Joint Declaration|loc=Annex III, s 2}} New leases granted by the colonial government after the treaty came into force could last no longer than the 2047 date{{sfn|Sino-British Joint Declaration|loc=Annex III, s 3}} and were subject to a 50-hectare annual aggregate limit on the total amount of land the government could contract out for purposes other than for housing.{{sfn|Sino-British Joint Declaration|loc=Annex III, s 4}} A Land Commission consisting of an equal number of representatives from the British and Chinese governments was established to oversee the implementation of this annex until the transfer of sovereignty in 1997.{{sfn|Sino-British Joint Declaration|loc=Annex III, s 7}}

=== Memoranda on nationality ===
{{see also|British nationality law and Hong Kong|Chinese nationality law}}

The memoranda attached to the end of the treaty contains transitional nationality arrangements for local residents, which included a stipulation that a new nationality would be created for Hongkongers that did not confer [[right of abode in the United Kingdom]].{{sfn|Sino-British Joint Declaration|loc=United Kingdom Memorandum}} The [[Hong Kong Act 1985]] created the [[British National (Overseas)]] status to fulfil this requirement.{{sfn|Hong Kong Act 1985}} All [[British Overseas Territories citizen|British Dependent Territories citizen]]s (BDTCs) connected with Hong Kong who did not have a connection with a remaining [[British Overseas Territory|British Dependent Territory]] would lose that status on the day of the transfer in 1997.{{sfn|The Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986|loc=ss 3–4}} Ethnic Chinese Hongkongers became Chinese nationals and could only retain British nationality if they had registered as BN(O)s before the handover.<ref name="BNOandBDTC">{{cite web |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/118595/british-national-dep-citizens.pdf |title=British National (Overseas) and British Dependent Territories Citizens |access-date=8 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211001422/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/118595/british-national-dep-citizens.pdf |archive-date=11 December 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Although they were permitted to use [[British passport]]s for international travel after the transfer, ethnic Chinese BN(O)s were explicitly restricted from accessing British consular protection within the Hong Kong SAR or any other part of Chinese territory.{{sfn|Sino-British Joint Declaration|loc=Chinese Memorandum}} Residents who were not ethnically Chinese, had not registered as BN(O)s, and would have been stateless on that date automatically became [[British Overseas citizen]]s.<ref name="BNOandBDTC" />

== Post-agreement ==
=== Contemporary reactions ===
The signing of the Joint Declaration caused some controversy in the United Kingdom because UK's [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]] was agreeing with [[Communist Party of China|China's Communist government]] represented by [[Deng Xiaoping]].<ref name="name"/> In the White Paper that contained the Joint Declaration, it was declared by [[Her Majesty's Government]] that "the alternative to acceptance of the present agreement is to have no agreement", a statement meant as a rebuttal to criticisms that the declaration had made too many concessions to China, and hinting at China's significant leverage during the negotiations.<ref name="name">{{cite web|url=http://www.hkbu.edu.hk/~pchksar/JD/jd-full1.htm|title=Sino–British Joint Declaration|publisher=[[Hong Kong Baptist University]]|page=29|access-date=8 August 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031208081141/http://www.hkbu.edu.hk/~pchksar/JD/jd-full1.htm|archive-date=8 December 2003}}</ref>

Some political analysts thought that there was an urgency to make an agreement because there were fears that without a treaty the [[Economy of Hong Kong|economy in Hong Kong]] would collapse in the 1980s. Concerns about land ownership in the leased New Territories also added to the problem. Although discussions on the future of Hong Kong had started in the late 1970s, the final timing of the Joint Declaration was more affected by property and economic factors rather than geopolitical necessities.<ref name="name"/>

=== Initial period after 1997 transfer ===
{{See also|Handover of Hong Kong}}

In the immediate years following the transfer of sovereignty, Chinese oversight of Hong Kong was considered relatively benign and hands-off.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bamber |first=David |date=23 July 2000 |title=Hong Kong smugglers rely on UK passports |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1350021/Hong-Kong-smugglers-rely-on-UK-passports.html |url-access=registration |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=19 July 2021 |archive-date=10 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210121824/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1350021/Hong-Kong-smugglers-rely-on-UK-passports.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Hillman |first=Jeremy |date=5 July 2000 |title=Hong Kong: Gateway to the West |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/820576.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=19 July 2021 |archive-date=27 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127183105/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/820576.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Although the Chinese had reversed the last British [[1994 Hong Kong electoral reform|democratic reforms]] for Legislative Council elections,{{sfn|Carroll|2007|p=200}} general governance of the region was otherwise virtually unchanged.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fenby |first=Jonathan |date=1 July 2007 |title=Hong Kong's business as usual |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2007/jul/01/thepriceofthestatusquo |access-date=3 March 2022 |archive-date=6 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306142908/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2007/jul/01/thepriceofthestatusquo |url-status=live }}</ref> While most [[Organisations with former royal patronage in Hong Kong|organisations with royal patronage]] dropped this association prior to the handover, there was no strict requirement for renaming; the [[Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club]] and [[Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch]] maintain the "Royal" prefix in their names.<ref>{{cite news |last=Crowell |first=Todd |date=10 June 1996 |title=A Battle Royal Rocks Imperial Yacht Club |work=[[The Christian Science Monitor]] |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1996/0610/061096.intl.intl.2.html |access-date=3 March 2022 |archive-date=3 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303090210/https://www.csmonitor.com/1996/0610/061096.intl.intl.2.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Colonial-era street names and postbox [[royal cypher]]s are not actively removed by the government and remain unchanged.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cheng |first=Kris |date=20 April 2018 |title=Colonial street names and royal cyphers on postboxes will not be removed, says Hong Kong gov't |work=[[Hong Kong Free Press]] |url=https://hongkongfp.com/2018/04/20/colonial-street-names-royal-ciphers-postboxes-will-not-removed-says-hong-kong-govt/ |access-date=3 March 2022 }}</ref>

After the [[Asian financial crisis]] in 1997 the Hong Kong measures were taken with the full co-operation of the Central Chinese government. This did not mean that the Chinese government dictated what to do and therefore still followed the points of the declaration.<ref name="Mc">McLaren, Robin. [http://www.hkjournal.org/PDF/2007_fall/5.pdf  "Hong Kong 1997–2007: a personal perspective"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624000556/http://www.hkjournal.org/PDF/2007_fall/5.pdf |date=24 June 2011 }}, retrieved at 17 April 2010.</ref> 
 
Despite this autonomy, the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region sometimes sought interference from the Central Chinese government. For example, in 1999 the government of the HKSAR asked China's State Council to seek an interpretation by the [[National People's Congress Standing Committee]] on a provision in the Basic Law. The original decision reached by the [[Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal]] was seen as problematic by the HKSAR government as it would have allowed up to 1.6&nbsp;million mainland immigrants to enter Hong Kong. The Chinese authorities obliged and the Hong Kong court's judgment was overturned, stopping the potential immigration.<ref name="Frank">Ching, Frank. [http://www.hkjournal.org/archive/ching.html  "The System Works – More or Less"], 1 January 2006. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414023353/http://www.hkjournal.org/archive/ching.html |date=14 April 2009 }}</ref>

Pressures from the mainland government were also apparent, for example in 2000, after the election of pro-independence candidate [[Chen Shui-bian]] as [[Taiwan]]'s president, a senior mainland official in Hong Kong warned journalists not to report the news. Another senior official advised businessmen not to do business with pro-independence Taiwanese.<ref name="Frank" />

With this and other changes,<ref name="Frank" /> ten years after the return, in 2007, ''[[The Guardian]]'' wrote that on the one hand, "nothing has changed since the handover to China 10 years ago", but this was in comparison to the situation before the last governor [[Chris Patten]] had introduced [[1994 Hong Kong electoral reform|democratic reforms]] three years before the handover. A chance for democracy had been lost as Hong Kong had just begun to develop three vital elements for a western-style democracy (the [[rule of law]], official accountability and a political class outside the one-party system) but the Sino–British deal had prevented any of these changes to continue according to Jonathan Fenby of ''The Guardian''.<ref>{{cite news|date=1 July 2007|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2007/jul/01/thepriceofthestatusquo|title=Hong Kong's business as usual|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=13 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306142908/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2007/jul/01/thepriceofthestatusquo|archive-date=6 March 2016|url-status=live}}.</ref>{{Opinion|date=June 2019}}

[[Wu Bangguo]], the chairman of the [[National People's Congress Standing Committee]] stated in a conference in Beijing 2007, that "Hong Kong had considerable autonomy only because the central government had chosen to authorize that autonomy".<ref>Keith Bradsher, 7 June 2007, [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9403E2D61E30F934A35755C0A9619C8B63&scp=9&sq=sino-british%20joint%20declaration&st=cse "World Briefing. Asia: China Reminds Hong Kong Who's Boss"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304094228/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9403E2D61E30F934A35755C0A9619C8B63&scp=9&sq=sino-british%20joint%20declaration&st=cse |date=4 March 2016 }}, ''The New York Times'', New York, online.</ref>

=== Dispute over treaty status ===
The Chinese and Hong Kong governments have stated since 2014 that they consider the Joint Declaration to have ceased any legal effect after the transfer of sovereignty, and that the central government's basic policies as elaborated in the document were a unilateral statement not actually binding. These statements are directly contradicted by the 50-year period of unchanged policies in Hong Kong that the central government committed to as part of the Joint Declaration.{{sfn|Cheung|2015|p=529}} Chinese government reiterated in 2017 that the Joint Declaration  was a "historical document" that no longer had any practical significance.<ref name="historical">{{Cite news |date=2017-07-01 |title=China says Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong no longer has meaning |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/world/china-says-sino-british-joint-declaration-on-hong-kong-no-longer-has-meaning-idUSKBN19L1J1/ |work=Reuters}}</ref> Former LegCo president and [[Standing Committee of the National People's Congress|Standing Committee]] member [[Rita Fan]] has asserted that United Kingdom supervisory responsibility over the Joint Declaration's implementation lapsed when the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group disbanded in 2000.{{sfn|Tsoi|2014}}

The United Kingdom, [[United States]], and [[Group of Seven|G7]] maintain that the Joint Declaration remains valid and in force.{{sfn|Lau|2019}} The Foreign Office has labelled the [[Causeway Bay Books disappearances]] in 2015,<ref>{{cite report |title=The Six-monthly Report on Hong Kong, 1 July to 31 December 2015 |date=11 February 2016 |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/500119/Six_Monthly_Report_on_Hong_Kong_-_1_July_to_31_December_2015.pdf |page=3 |access-date=29 October 2021 |archive-date=3 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203115035/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/500119/Six_Monthly_Report_on_Hong_Kong_-_1_July_to_31_December_2015.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> enactment of the [[2020 Hong Kong national security law|Hong Kong national security law]] in 2020,<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/foreign-secretary-statement-on-national-security-legislation-in-hong-kong |title=National security legislation in Hong Kong: Foreign Secretary's statement in Parliament |date=1 July 2020 |publisher=Foreign and Commonwealth Office |access-date=29 October 2021 |archive-date=9 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209013848/https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/foreign-secretary-statement-on-national-security-legislation-in-hong-kong |url-status=live }}</ref> [[2020 Hong Kong Legislative Council candidates' disqualification controversy|disqualification of opposition Legislative Council candidates]] in 2020,<ref>{{cite press release |date=12 November 2020 |title=Foreign Secretary declares breach of Sino-British Joint Declaration |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-declares-breach-of-sino-british-joint-declaration |publisher=Foreign and Commonwealth Office |access-date=16 November 2020 |archive-date=13 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213200901/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-declares-breach-of-sino-british-joint-declaration |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[2021 Hong Kong electoral reform|electoral reform]] in 2021 as serious breaches of the treaty.{{sfn|Lau|2021}} Since 2021, the UK has considered China to be in a "state of ongoing non-compliance" with the Joint Declaration.{{sfn|Savage|2021}}

China disregards accusations of Joint Declaration breaches as foreign interference and [[neocolonialism|neocolonialist]] tampering,{{sfn|Cheung|2019}}{{sfn|Yan|2019}} and considers Hong Kong matters to be part of its internal affairs.{{sfn|Graham–Harrison|Kuo|Davidson|2020}}{{sfn|Qin|2020}} Chinese foreign ministry spokespersons have repeatedly stated that the United Kingdom lacks supervisory authority over Hong Kong following the handover in 1997 and that the treaty is a historical document with no extant binding authority.{{sfn|Connor|2017}}{{sfn|Phillips|2017}}{{sfn|"China says Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong no longer has meaning", ''Reuters''}} The central government's primary regional agency, the [[Hong Kong Liaison Office]], declared in April 2020 that it was exempt from Basic Law restrictions on mainland government interference in local affairs.{{sfn|Wong|Cheung|Sum|2020}}

Following China's imposition of [[2020 Hong Kong national security law|national security legislation on Hong Kong]] in 2020, the UK extended residence rights and created a new path to citizenship for Hong Kong residents with British National (Overseas) status.{{sfn|Cooper|2020}} The Chinese government derided this change as "gross interference"{{sfn|Graham–Harrison|Kuo|Davidson|2020}} and subsequently withdrew recognition of BN(O) passports as valid travel documents in 2021.<ref>{{cite press release |title=HKSAR Government follows up on China's countermeasures against British Government's handling of issues related to British National (Overseas) passport |url=https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202101/29/P2021012900763.htm |publisher=[[Government of Hong Kong]] |date=29 January 2021 |access-date=8 February 2021 |archive-date=9 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209025551/https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202101/29/P2021012900763.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The United States enacted the [[Hong Kong Autonomy Act]] in response to the national security law,{{sfn|Breuninger|Macias|2020}} and imposed economic sanctions on 34 individuals that the US [[United States Department of State|State]] and [[United States Department of the Treasury|Treasury Departments]] determined to have materially contributed to Joint Declaration breaches. The list of sanctioned persons includes Chief Executive [[Carrie Lam]], [[Principal officials of Hong Kong|principal officials of the Hong Kong government]], and members of the [[Standing Committee of the National People's Congress]].<ref>{{cite press release |title=Identification of Foreign Persons Involved in the Erosion of the Obligations of China Under the Joint Declaration or the Basic Law |date=14 October 2020 |publisher=[[United States Department of State]] |url=https://www.state.gov/identification-of-foreign-persons-involved-in-the-erosion-of-the-obligations-of-china-under-the-joint-declaration-or-the-basic-law/ |access-date=30 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201015031346/https://www.state.gov/identification-of-foreign-persons-involved-in-the-erosion-of-the-obligations-of-china-under-the-joint-declaration-or-the-basic-law/ |archive-date=15 October 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |title=Update to Report on Identification of Foreign Persons Involved in the Erosion of the Obligations of China Under the Joint Declaration or the Basic Law |date=16 March 2021 |publisher=[[United States Department of State]] |url=https://www.state.gov/update-to-report-on-identification-of-foreign-persons-involved-in-the-erosion-of-the-obligations-of-china-under-the-joint-declaration-or-the-basic-law/ |access-date=30 October 2021 |archive-date=16 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016090924/https://www.state.gov/update-to-report-on-identification-of-foreign-persons-involved-in-the-erosion-of-the-obligations-of-china-under-the-joint-declaration-or-the-basic-law/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 2024 the pro-Beijing legislature in Hong Kong fast-tracked [[Safeguarding National Security Ordinance|a new security law]] under [[Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23|Article 23]] of the [[Hong Kong Basic Law]], which introduced harsh new penalties such as life imprisonment for new offences such as external interference and insurrection. Critics claimed that the law would further erode civil liberties enshrined in the Joint Declaration.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-68594448|title=Article 23: Hong Kong passes tough security law|website=BBC News|date=19 March 2024|archive-date=19 March 2024|access-date=19 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240319134353/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-68594448|url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration]]

== Notes ==
{{NoteFoot}}

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== General and cited sources ===
==== Publications ====
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* {{cite book |last=Becker |first=Bert |editor-last1=Fitcher |editor-first1=James R. |chapter=French Kwang-Chow-Wan and British Hong Kong: Politics and Shipping, 1890s–1920s |title=British and French Colonialism in Africa, Asia and the Middle East |series=Cambridge Imperial and Post-Colonial Studies |pages=181–221 |year=2019 |publisher=[[Springer Science+Business Media|Springer]] |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-97964-9_9 |isbn=978-3-319-97963-2 |s2cid=201357213 }}
* {{cite book |last=Carroll |first=John |title=A Concise History of Hong Kong |year=2007 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D37ijXG-FykC |isbn=978-0-7425-3422-3 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Chan |first=Ming K. |title=Different Roads to Home: the retrocession of Hong Kong and Macau to Chinese sovereignty |journal=[[Journal of Contemporary China]] |year=2003 |volume=12 |issue=36 |pages=493–518 |doi=10.1080/10670560305473 |s2cid=925886 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Cheng |first=Joseph Y.S. |title=The Future of Hong Kong: Surveys of the Hong Kong People's Attitudes |author-link=Joseph Cheng |journal=The Australian Journal of Chinese Affairs |date=July 1984 |volume=12 |issue=12 |pages=113–142 |jstor=2158991 |doi=10.2307/2158991 |s2cid=156510817 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Cheung |first=Alvin Y.H. |title=Road to Nowhere: Hong Kong's Democratization and China's Obligations Under Public International Law |journal=Brooklyn Journal of International Law |publisher=[[Brooklyn Law School]] |date=2015 |volume=40 |issue=2 |pages=465–545 |doi=10.31228/osf.io/djbcz |url=https://brooklynworks.brooklaw.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1038&context=bjil |archive-date=11 November 2021 |access-date=11 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111091542/https://brooklynworks.brooklaw.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1038&context=bjil |url-status=live }}
* {{cite journal |last=Chuang |first=Richard |title=The Chinese Military and Hong Kong |journal=Asian Affairs: An American Review |year=1996 |volume=22 |issue=4 |pages=211–223 |doi=10.1080/00927678.1996.9933711 |jstor=30172258 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Evans |first=J. M. |title=Immigration Act 1971 |journal=The Modern Law Review |year=1972 |volume=35 |issue=5 |pages=508–524 |jstor=1094478 |doi=10.1111/j.1468-2230.1972.tb02363.x }}
* {{cite journal |last=Hansen |first=Randall |title=The Politics of Citizenship in 1940s Britain: The British Nationality Act |journal=Twentieth Century British History |year=1999 |author-link=Randall Hansen |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages=67–95 |doi=10.1093/tcbh/10.1.67 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Harris |first=Peter |title=Hong Kong Confronts 1997: An Assessment of the Sino-British Agreement |journal=[[Pacific Affairs]] |year=1986 |volume=59 |issue=1 |pages=45–68 |jstor=2759003 |doi=10.2307/2759003 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Hau |first=Milia |title=The Official Mind of British Post-Imperialism: Influencing Parliamentary Opinions during the Anglo-Chinese Negotiations on the Future of Hong Kong, 1982-84 |journal=[[The International History Review]] |year=2021 |volume=43 |issue=6 |pages=1198–1216 |doi=10.1080/07075332.2021.1876135 |doi-access=free }}
* {{cite hansard |title=Hong Kong: Future |jurisdiction=United Kingdom |house=[[House of Lords]] |volume=452 |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/1984-05-21/debates/a82377db-14ed-4c34-8795-edee4c4a3e41/HongKongFuture?highlight=overseas%20citizens#contribution-aa669f86-e6b8-4174-aa0a-1536fad926d4 |date=21 May 1984 |access-date=5 August 2021 |ref={{sfnref|"Hong Kong: Future"}} }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806030329/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/1984-05-21/debates/a82377db-14ed-4c34-8795-edee4c4a3e41/HongKongFuture?highlight=overseas%20citizens#contribution-aa669f86-e6b8-4174-aa0a-1536fad926d4 |date=6 August 2021 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Johnson |first=Chalmers |title=The Mousetrapping of Hong Kong: A Game in Which Nobody Wins |journal=Asian Survey |date=September 1984 |volume=24 |issue=9 |pages=887–909 |jstor=2644075 |doi=10.2307/2644075 |s2cid=154160559 }}
* {{cite report |title=Main Report |work=1996 Population By-Census |publisher=[[Census and Statistics Department (Hong Kong)|Census and Statistics Department]] |date=December 1996 |url=https://www.statistics.gov.hk/pub/hist/1991_2000/B11200831996XXXXE0100.pdf |access-date=10 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013094501/https://www.statistics.gov.hk/pub/hist/1991_2000/B11200831996XXXXE0100.pdf |archive-date=13 October 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all |ref={{sfnref|1996 Population By-Census}} }}
* {{cite journal |last=Roy |first=Sunil C. |title=The Hong Kong Agreement: An Assessment |journal=[[China Report]] |year=1985 |volume=21 |issue=2 |pages=169–172 |doi=10.1177/000944558502100205 |s2cid=154486233 |doi-access=free }}
* {{cite journal |last=So |first=Alvin Y. |title=The Economic Success of Hong Kong: Insights from a World-System Perspective |journal=Sociological Perspectives |date=April 1986 |volume=29 |issue=2 |pages=241–258 |jstor=1388960 |doi=10.2307/1388960 |s2cid=144799098 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Tam |first1=Maria Wai-chu |last2=Chan |first2=Eugene Kin-keung |last3=Choi Kwan |first3=Janice Wing-kum |last4=Leung |first4=Gloria Chi-kin |last5=Lo |first5=Alexandra Dak-wai |last6=Tang |first6=Simon Shu-pui |publisher=Working Group on Overseas Community of the Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee |chapter=Drafting and Promulgation of the Basic Law and Hong Kong's Reunification with the Motherland |title=The Basic Law and Hong Kong – The 15th Anniversary of Reunification with the Motherland |chapter-url=https://www.basiclaw.gov.hk/filemanager/content/en/files/anniversary-reunification15/anniversary-reunification15-ch1-2.pdf |date=2012 |oclc=884571397 |access-date=5 August 2021 |archive-date=6 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806033536/https://www.basiclaw.gov.hk/filemanager/content/en/files/anniversary-reunification15/anniversary-reunification15-ch1-2.pdf |url-status=live }}
* {{cite journal |last=Wesley-Smith |first=Peter |title=The Future of Hong Kong: Not What It Used to Be |journal=Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law |date=May 1997 |volume=30 |issue=3 |pages=421–448 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Yui |first=Chim Lo |title=The Last Stand of Colonialism? The Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils and the Sino-British Negotiations Over Hong Kong, 1982–1984 |journal=[[The Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History]] |year=2020 |volume=48 |issue=2 |pages=370–394 |doi=10.1080/03086534.2019.1689620 |s2cid=211456201 }}
{{refend}}

==== News articles ====
{{refbegin|35em}}
* {{cite news |last1=Breuninger |first1=Kevin |last2=Macias |first2=Amanda |date=14 July 2020 |title=China vows retaliation after Trump slaps sanctions on it for interference in Hong Kong |publisher=[[CNBC]] |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/14/trump-signed-law-slapping-sanctions-on-china-for-interference-in-hong-kong.html |access-date=30 October 2021 |archive-date=30 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030103343/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/14/trump-signed-law-slapping-sanctions-on-china-for-interference-in-hong-kong.html |url-status=live }}
* {{cite news |last=Burns |first=John F. |title=Hong Kong Accord Signed in Peking |date=20 December 1984 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/12/20/world/hong-kong-accord-is-signed-in-peking.html |access-date=5 August 2021 |archive-date=6 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806033948/https://www.nytimes.com/1984/12/20/world/hong-kong-accord-is-signed-in-peking.html |url-status=live }}
* {{cite news |last=Cheung |first=Gary |date=2 January 2010 |title=Deng kept his HK options open in 1979 |work=[[South China Morning Post]] |url=https://www.scmp.com/article/702556/deng-kept-his-hk-options-open-1979 |access-date=7 August 2021 |archive-date=7 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210807091207/https://www.scmp.com/article/702556/deng-kept-his-hk-options-open-1979 |url-status=live }}
* {{cite news |last=Cheung |first=Gary |date=4 July 2019 |title=What is the Sino-British Joint Declaration? |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3017318/explainer-what-sino-british-joint-declaration-and-what-does |work=[[South China Morning Post]] |access-date=1 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001151432/https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3017318/explainer-what-sino-british-joint-declaration-and-what-does |archive-date=1 October 2019 |url-status=live }}
* {{cite news |title=China says Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong no longer has meaning |date=30 June 2017 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-anniversary-china-idUSKBN19L1J1 |work=[[Reuters]] |access-date=2 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702231318/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-anniversary-china-idUSKBN19L1J1 |archive-date=2 July 2017 |url-status=live |ref={{sfnref|"China says Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong no longer has meaning", ''Reuters''}} }}
* {{cite news |last=Connor |first=Neil |date=30 June 2017 |title=China says legally binding Hong Kong handover treaty with Britain has 'no practical significance' |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/30/china-says-legally-binding-hong-kong-handover-treaty-britain/ |access-date=5 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129031033/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/30/china-says-legally-binding-hong-kong-handover-treaty-britain/ |archive-date=29 January 2018 |url-status=live }}
* {{cite news |last=Cooper |first=Charlie |date=1 July 2020 |title=UK triggers Hong Kong citizenship offer |work=[[Politico]] |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-triggers-hong-kong-citizenship-offer-china-national-security-law/ |access-date=29 October 2021 |archive-date=30 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030034502/https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-triggers-hong-kong-citizenship-offer-china-national-security-law/ |url-status=live }}
* {{cite news |last1=Graham–Harrison |first1=Emma |last2=Kuo |first2=Lily |last3=Davidson |first3=Helen |date=3 June 2020 |title=China accuses UK of gross interference over Hong Kong citizenship offer |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/03/china-accuses-uk-of-gross-interference-over-hong-kong-citizenship-offer |access-date=29 October 2021 |archive-date=30 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630000800/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/03/china-accuses-uk-of-gross-interference-over-hong-kong-citizenship-offer |url-status=live }}
* {{cite news |last=Lau |first=Jessie |date=13 March 2021 |title=Less Democracy, More 'Patriots': Hong Kong's New Electoral System |work=[[The Diplomat (magazine)|The Diplomat]] |url=https://thediplomat.com/2021/03/less-democracy-more-patriots-hong-kongs-new-electoral-system/ |access-date=29 October 2021 |archive-date=29 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029213413/https://thediplomat.com/2021/03/less-democracy-more-patriots-hong-kongs-new-electoral-system/ |url-status=live }}
* {{cite news |last=Lau |first=Stuart |date=27 August 2019 |title=US President Donald Trump says he believes China sincerely seeks a trade deal |work=[[South China Morning Post]] |agency=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3024439/us-president-donald-trump-says-he-believes-china-sincerely |access-date=26 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190826212702/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3024439/us-president-donald-trump-says-he-believes-china-sincerely |archive-date=26 August 2019 |url-status=live }}
* {{cite news |last=Phillips |first=Tom |date=30 June 2017 |title=China attacks Boris Johnson over 'incorrect' views on Hong Kong |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/30/china-attacks-boris-johnson-ncorrect-views-hong-kong |access-date=1 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701041957/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/30/china-attacks-boris-johnson-ncorrect-views-hong-kong |archive-date=1 July 2017 |url-status=live }}
* {{cite news |last=Qin |first=Amy |date=1 June 2020 |title=China Offers Measured Response to Trump's Move on Hong Kong |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/01/world/asia/china-trump-hong-kong.html |access-date=29 October 2021 |archive-date=30 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030034501/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/01/world/asia/china-trump-hong-kong.html |url-status=live }}
* {{cite news |last=Savage |first=Michael |date=13 March 2021 |work=[[The Guardian]] |title=Hong Kong: UK accuses China of breaching joint declaration |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/mar/13/hong-kong-uk-accuses-china-of-breaching-joint-declaration |access-date=29 October 2021 |archive-date=22 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210622200014/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/mar/13/hong-kong-uk-accuses-china-of-breaching-joint-declaration |url-status=live }}
* {{cite news |last=Sheridan |first=Michael |date=24 June 2007 |title=Revealed: the Hong Kong invasion plan |work=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/revealed-the-hong-kong-invasion-plan-b0xpm60xd2h |access-date=5 August 2021 |archive-date=7 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250407001657/https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/revealed-the-hong-kong-invasion-plan-b0xpm60xd2h |url-status=live }}
* {{cite news |last=Tsoi |first=Grace |date=18 December 2014 |title=Does China Think the Sino-British Joint Declaration Is Void? |work=[[Foreign Policy]] |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2014/12/18/does-china-think-the-sino-british-joint-declaration-is-void/ |access-date=6 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202005729/https://foreignpolicy.com/2014/12/18/does-china-think-the-sino-british-joint-declaration-is-void/ |archive-date=2 December 2019 |url-status=live }}
* {{cite news |last1=Wong |first1=Natalie |last2=Cheung |first2=Gary |last3=Sum |first3=Lok-kei |date=17 April 2020 |title=Beijing's liaison office says it has right to handle Hong Kong affairs, as provided by constitution and Basic Law |work=[[South China Morning Post]] |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3080506/beijings-liaison-office-says-it-has-right-handle-hong-kong |access-date=30 October 2021 |archive-date=30 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030103343/https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3080506/beijings-liaison-office-says-it-has-right-handle-hong-kong |url-status=live }}
* {{cite news |last=Wren |first=Christopher S. |date=23 September 1982a |title=Mrs. Thatcher Meets Zhao in Peking |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/09/23/world/mrs-thatcher-meets-zhao-in-peking.html |access-date=5 August 2021 }}
* {{cite news |last=Wren |first=Christopher S. |date=1 October 1982b |title=China Calls Hong Kong Pacts Invalid |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/10/01/world/china-calls-hong-kong-pacts-invalid.html |access-date=5 August 2021 |archive-date=5 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805134046/https://www.nytimes.com/1982/10/01/world/china-calls-hong-kong-pacts-invalid.html |url-status=live }}
* {{cite news |last=Wren |first=Christopher S. |title=Hong Kong Stew: And Now a Dash of Democracy |date=17 July 1984a |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/07/17/world/hong-kong-stew-and-now-a-dash-of-democracy.html |access-date=5 August 2021 |archive-date=5 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805134047/https://www.nytimes.com/1984/07/17/world/hong-kong-stew-and-now-a-dash-of-democracy.html |url-status=live }}
* {{cite news |last=Wren |first=Christopher S. |title=Hong Kong Accord Initialed in China |date=26 September 1984b |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/09/26/world/hong-kong-accord-initialed-in-china.html |access-date=5 August 2021 |archive-date=6 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806033535/https://www.nytimes.com/1984/09/26/world/hong-kong-accord-initialed-in-china.html |url-status=live }}
* {{cite news |last=Yan |first=Sophia |date=9 July 2019 |title=Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam declares extradition bill 'dead' – but stops short of withdrawing it |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/07/09/hong-hong-leader-carrie-lam-declares-extradition-bill-dead/ |access-date=1 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922110314/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/07/09/hong-hong-leader-carrie-lam-declares-extradition-bill-dead/ |archive-date=22 September 2019 |url-status=live }}
{{refend}}

==== Legislation and treaty law ====
{{refbegin|35em}}
* {{wikicite |reference={{cite legislation UK |type=act |year=1981 |chapter=61 |act=British Nationality Act 1981}} |ref={{sfnref|British Nationality Act 1981}}}}
* {{wikicite |reference={{cite legislation UK |type=act |year=1985 |chapter=15 |act=Hong Kong Act 1985}} |ref={{sfnref|Hong Kong Act 1985}}}}
* {{wikicite |reference=Sino-British Joint Declaration ([https://www.hklii.hk/eng/hk/legis/instrument/A301/all.html Instrument A301]) |ref={{sfnref|Sino-British Joint Declaration}}}}
* {{wikicite |reference={{cite legislation UK |type=si |year=1986 |number=948 |si=The Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986}} |ref={{sfnref|The Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986}}}}
{{refend}}

==Further reading==
{{Library resources box}}
* Mark, Chi-kwan (2017). "To 'educate' Deng Xiaoping in capitalism: Thatcher's visit to China and the future of Hong Kong in 1982". ''Cold War History'' '''17'''.2: 1–20. {{doi|10.1080/14682745.2015.1094058}}.
* Tang, James T. H. (May 1994). "From empire defence to imperial retreat: Britain's postwar China policy and the decolonization of Hong Kong". ''Modern Asian Studies'' 28.02: 317–337. {{JSTOR|312889}}.
* {{cite journal | last1=Wei | first1=Rong | last2=Burnham | first2=Peter | last3=Kerr | first3=Peter | title=Reassessing Thatcher's foreign policy: The Sino-British Declaration 1984 | journal=The British Journal of Politics and International Relations | volume=26 | issue=3 | date=2024 | issn=1369-1481 | doi=10.1177/13691481231190502 | pages=848–863| doi-access=free }}.

{{Hong Kong topics}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sino-British Joint Declaration}}
[[Category:1984 in China]]
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[[Category:Handover of Hong Kong]]
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