See Br
+
LIM 300/31
RR FCO
RR HONG KONG
GR 720
CONFIDENTIAL
FM PEKING 3177152 MAR 81
TO ROUTING FOO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 232 OF 51/5
INFO HONG KONG *
MIPT: VISA OFFICE
1. TEXT OF PROPOSED NEW DRAFT MEMORANDUM FOLLOWS.
REGINS.
IN THE COURSE OF SEVERAL MEETINGS BETWEEN BRITISH AND CHINESE REPRESENTATIVE HELD IN LONDON AND PEKING FROM 1979 TO 1991
ON MATTERS RELATING TO THE PROPOSED VISA OFFICE OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN HONG KONG, THE FOLLOWING UNDERSTANDING WAS REACHED,
(1) IN ORDER TO MEET THE GROWING NEED FOR ECONOMIC, TRADE TOURIST. CULTURAL AND OTHER EXCHANGES THE CHINESE SIDE AND THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES IN HONG KONG ORALLY AGREED ON 9 AUGUST 1979 THAT THE CHINESE SIDE WAS TO SET UP IN HONG KONG A VISA OFFICE OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.
(11) TO ENSURE THE SMOOTH FUNCTIONING OF THE SAID VISA OFFICE IN HONG KONG, IT WILL ENJOY THE FOLLOWING PRIVILEGES: (A) EXEMPTION FROM TAXES ON ITS REVENUE (EG FROM VISA FEES), (3) THE RIGHT TO USE CYPHER,
(C) EXEMPTION FROM TAXES ON SALARIES OR EMOLUMENTS OF ITS CHINA-BASED OFFICIALS AND STAFF MEMBERS.
(D) COURIER SERVICETO PE EXEMPT FROM SEARCH.
(E) THE PREMISES, DOCUMENTS AND ARCHIVES TO BE EXEMPT FROM SEARCH
(F) THE CHINA-BASED OFFICIALS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS NOT TO RE LIABLE TO ARREST OR DETENTION.
2.
IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT, WHILST PRIVILEGES (A) TO (C) CAN SE GRANTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT PAIVILEGES (D) TO (F) CANNOT BE FORMALLY GRANTED WITHOUT LEGISLATION. HOWEVER, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPHS 3, AND 3 BELOW WOULD WISH TO GIVE
4.
ASURRANCES THAT THEY WOULD, IN PRACTICE A, NORMALLY BE EXTENDED (IF APPROPRIATE: IN THE EVENT OF A SEARCH OF THE PREMISES BEING UNAVOIDABLE THIS SHOULD NORMALLY BE CONDUCTED ONLY IN THE PRESENCE OF THE HEAD OF THE CHINESE VISA OFFICE OR HIS PEPRESENTATIVE)