CONFIDENTIAL
14220 - 1
SCALE OF PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES FOR THE FIVE CHINESE MEMBERS
OF THE JLG WHEN IN LONDON AND HONG KONG AS ARE ACCORDED TO
DIPLOMATIC AGENTS. WE WOULD POINT OUT THAT ANNEX II DOES NOT
REFER TO PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES FOR SUPPORTING STAFF, BUT THAT
WE ASSUMED THE CHINESE COULD AGREE THAT THEY SHOULD BE NOTIFIED
AS MEMBERS OF THE RESPECTIVE EMBASSIES WHEN IN LONDON AND PEKING.
IN HONG KONG THE CHINESE COULD BE NOTIFIED AS MEMBERS OF THE
CHINESE VISA OFFICE.
5. ON VISAS WE WOULD WANT TO AVOID GRATUITOUS DISAGREEMENT WITH
THE CHINESE IN ADVANCE OF ANY SPECIFIC PROBLEMS THAT MIGHT ARISE. THE GENERAL QUESTION OF HONG KONG PARTICIPATION ON THE JLG MAY
ITSELF TURN OUT TO BE A CONTENTIOUS ONE. WE THEREFORE WOULD NOT/NOT
PROPOSE TO RAISE THE GENERAL QUESTION OF VISAS IN THE
ABSTRACT WITH THE CHINESE. IF THERE WAS A HONG KONG
REPRESENTATIVE WHOM THE CHINESE DECIDE TO TREAT DIFFERENTLY FROM
REPRESENTATIVES OF HMG WE WOULD WANT TO DECIDE IN THE LIGHT OF
ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES HOW WE WOULD REACT.
6.
WHEN WE SPEAK TO THE CHINESE ABOUT PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES
FOR THE JLG WE COULD AT THE SAME TIME ALSO EXPLORE INFORMALLY
WITH THEM THEIR THINKING ON THE STATUS OF CHINESE MEMBERS
OF THE LAND COMMISSION IN HONG KONG. WE CAN SEE NO ADVANTAGE IN
VOLUNTEERING PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES FOR THESE MEMBERS WHEN WE
ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DO SO, BUT WE AGREE THAT WE SHOULD BE CLEAR
ON THE CHINESE POSITION IN ORDER TO AVOID LAST MINUTE HICCUPS.
HOWE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
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