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<p>The Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific held a meeting with the Chinese
Ambassador on 5 July in which he made clear that the UK Government did not accept
the position of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson that the Joint
Declaration was an historical document of no practical significance. He stressed that,
as a guarantor of the Joint Declaration, the UK Government regarded it as legitimate
to continue to issue a six-monthly report to the House on Hong Kong affairs.</p><p>The
Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Beijing also raised the Government's
concerns with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 5 July stressing that the
Joint Declaration is a legally binding treaty, registered with the UN. As a co-signatory,
the UK Government is committed to monitoring its implementation closely.</p>
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