/ 2
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 Hong Kong 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 Hong Kong 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 consider that in case of a criminal or civil complaint against officials of the Visa Office and their dependents, the British authorities in Hong Kong should settle the issue through diplomatic channels.
3. The premises of the said office and the residence of its Director purchased by the Office are properties
/belonging