Britain declared last night that its political and moral commitments to Hong Kong would last beyond 2047 - half a century after the handover.
Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind, tabling the last annual report on Hong Kong to the House of Commons, said Britain would discharge its promises to China under the Joint Declaration by 'restoring a stable and prosperous Hong Kong to China on July 1'.
'The onus will then be on China to fulfil the remarkable series of undertakings which it made to Britain about every aspect of Hong Kong's way of life after the handover.
'We shall expect China to carry out its side of the bargain,' he said.
'Britain's political and moral commitment to Hong Kong will, however, last long beyond that - and, indeed, beyond the 50 years of the Joint Declaration.
'This report marks another important stage on a journey which Britain and Hong Kong have long made together, but which is far from over,' said Mr Rifkind.
