CONFIDENTIAL
ZCZ C
GRS
CONFIDENTIAL
IMMEDIATE
FM FCO 30120OZ OCTOBER 84
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
HONG KON TELNO 3330 AND PEKING TELNOS 2661 AND 2670:
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES
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.
If we had left the matter for later discussion with the Chinese
we might have found ourselves unable to meet the obligations
imposed by the agreement and therefore unable to ratify. Only
with legislation can we be absolutely certrain of our position.
The inclusion of the phrase 'as appropriate' in para 10 of Annex II was simply intended to make it clear that British and Hong Kong representatives would not enjoy diplomatic privileges and
immunities when in Hong Kong and London. We believe that there
can be no serious doubt that the Chinese will want the five
Chinese members of the group to enjoy full diplomatic privileges
JN POWELL
233 3722
and
HKD
HONG KONG AGREEMENT