CONFIDENTIAL
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OO HONG KONG
GRS 800
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 011535Z OCT 84
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 2164 OF 1 NOVEMBER
HKK 040/53
040/53
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY O 5 NOV 1984
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
W
REGISTRY Action Taken
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
52
48
HONG KONG TELNO 3330 AND PEKING TELNOS 2661 AND 2670:
HONG KONG AGREEMENT:
PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES
Si
1. WE HAVE DECIDED TO OPT FOR LEGISLATION IN THE CASE OF THE
FIVE CHINESE MEMBERS OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP BECAUSE IT IS
ONLY IN THIS WAY THAT WE CAN BE CERTAIN OF FULFILLING OUR.
OBLIGATIONS UNDER PARA 10 OF ANNEX II OF THE JOINT DECLARATION.
WE ARE ALSO ADVISED THAT IS STRONGLY PREFERABLE IN PARLIAMENTARY
TERMS TO FULFILL THESE OBLIGATIONS OPENLY AND IN A FORM WHICH IS
OPEN TO PARLIAMENTARY DISCUSSION, RATHER THAN BY AN
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE THAT MIGHT ATTRACT CRITICISM.
(PARLIAMENT IS VERY SENSITIVE ON QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES.) IF WE HAD LEFT THE MATTER FOR LATER DISCUSSION WITH
THE CHINESE WE MIGHT HAVE FOUND OURSELVES UNABLE TO MEET THEIR
DEFINITION OF THE OBLIGATIONS IMPOSED BY THE AGREEMENT AND
THEREFORE UNABLE TO RATIFY. THE WORDS 'AS APPROPRIATE WHEN IN
THE THREE LOCATIONS' WERE INCLUDED IN PARA 10 OF ANNEX II SIMPLY
TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT BRITISH AND CHINESE MEMBERS WOULD NOT ENJOY
DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES WHEN IN THEIR OWN TERRITORY. WE BELIEVE THAT THERE CAN BE NO SERIOUS DOUBT THAT THE CHINESE
WILL WANT THE FIVE CHINESE MEMBERS OF THE GROUP TO ENOY FULL
DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES IN HONG KONG AND LONDON.
SEE NO NEED TO APPROACH THEM ABOUT THIS BEFORE LEGISLATING.
WE
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CONFIDENTIAL