63,
GPS300
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIV
FROM HONG KONG 02104OZ NOV 84
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 3366 OF 02 NOVEMBER
DESK OFFICER
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INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
HKK040/53
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YOUR TELNO 2164: HONG KONG AGREEMENT: PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES
1
1. WE WILL START WORK ON THE LEGISLATION WHICH WILL BE NEEDED HERE
AS YOU SUGGEST. IT WILL NOT HOWEVER BE SUFFICIENT SIMPLY TO INFORM
THE CHINESE THAT WE ARE LEGISLATING TO PROVIDE THE SAME SCALE
OF PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES FOR THE FIVE CHINESE MEMBERS OF THE JLG
... AS ARE ACCORDED TO DIPLOMATIC AGENTS'' (PARA 4 OF YOUR
TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE). THERE ARE NO DIPLOMATIC AGENTS HERE
AND NOONE AT PRESENT ENJOYS FULL DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES. THIS
WILL HAVE TO BE EXPLAINED TO THE CHINESE AND WE WILL NEED
TO DESCRIBE THE SCOPE OF OUR PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO THEM IN SOME
DETAIL BEFORE WE INTORDUCE IT. THE PURPOSE WOULD BE TO ENSURE
THAT THEY WERE CONTENT: WE CANNOT AFFORD DISPUTES AFTER AN
ORDINANCE HAS BEEN PASSED.
2. THOUGH WE HAVE NO OBJECTION TO TRYING THE IDEA ON THEM, WE
ARE DOUBTFUL WHETHER THE CHINESE WOULD WISH CHINESE SUPPORTING
STAFF TO BE FORMALLY ATTACHED TO THE VISA OFFICE WHILE IN HONG KONG, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE JLG IS ESTABLISHED HERE. WE
THEREFORE THINK THAT WE WILL NEED TO BE PREPARED TO PROVIDE
FOR SUPPORTING STAFF IN THE LEGISLATION DEALING WITH PRIVILEGES
AND IMMUNITIES FOR THE CHINESE MEMBERS OF THE GROUP, AS
PROPOSED IN PARA 3 OF MY TELNO 3301. THIS TOO WILL NEED DISCUSSION
WITH THE CHINESE.
3. ON PARA 5 OF YOUR TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE, THE IMPORTANT
POINT FOR HONG KONG IS THAT FULL MEMBERS OF THE GROUP ON THE ONE
HAND, AND SUPPORTING STAFF ON THE OTHER SHOULD BE TREATED
ALIKE WHERE VISAS ARE CONCERNED. WE CAN SURELY INFORM THE
CHINESE THAT THIS IS THE ASSUMPTION ON WHICH WE ARE WORKING WITHOUT
GIVING RISE TO GRATUITOUS DISAGREEMENT. IF THE CHINESE DID
MAKE DIFFICULTIES ABOUT GIVING A HONG KONG REPRESENTATIVE ON
THE GROUP THE VISA APPROPRIATE TO HIS STATUS WE HOPE THAT YOU
WOULD TAKE A VERY FIRM LINE.
YOUDE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD HD PROTOCOL D DEP HD/PUSD
RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER) PS
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING
.
SIR J FREELAND
MR BOYD
COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT
MR FIFOOT. LEGAL ADVISERS MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET
OFFICE
MR CARTLEDGE, CABINET OFFICE MR COLVIN, CABINET OFFICE
SIR P CRADOCK, NO 10 DOWNING ST SIR P CRADOCK, ROOM K195
CONFIDENTIAL MRWOOD LEGAL ADVISER
67