muva
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's
Republic of China.
2. It will not be a representative office of the
People's Republic of China and its functions will
be restricted to the issue of Visas.
3. The Chinese side has taken note of the explana-
tions made in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 in the Memorandum
of 19 June of the British Embassy in China that
whilst privileges a. to c. can be granted to the
Visa Office by administrative action by the Hong-
kong authorities, privileges d. to f. cannot be
formally granted without legislation. However,
the Hongkong authorities would wish to give
assurances that they would, in practice, normally
be extended.
III. In the course of the talks with the British
side, the Chinese side also has clarified the following
points:
1.
The Visa Office is an office of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of
China. The British authorities in Hongkong have
the responsibility to take all appropriate measures
to protect the premises of the Office from any
encroachment or damage and guarantee the personal
safety of its officials and their dependents.
2. The Chinese side considers that in case of a
criminal or civil complaint against officials of
the Visa Office and their dependents, the British
authorities in Hongkong should settle the issue
through diplomatic channels.
败