SPEECH BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY 17 APRIL 1985
PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES (JOINT LIAISON GROUP)
BILL 1985
SIR.
CLAUSE 10 OF ANNEX II TO THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT
DECLARATION PROVIDES THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE JOINT LIAISON
so
GROUP SHALL ENJOY DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES AS
APPROPRIATE WHEN IN THE THREE LOCATIONS FOR MEETINGS OF THE
GROUP, WHICH ARE BEIJING, LONDON AND HONG KONG. THE PURPOSE
OF THIS BILL IS TO FULFILL THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S OBLIGATION
UNDER THE TERMS OF ANNEX II TO PROVIDE DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES
AND IMMUNITIES FOR THE FIVE CHINESE MEMBERS OF THE JOINT
LIAISON GROUP FOR MEETINGS IN HONG KONG. THIS MUST BE DONE
BEFORE THE EXCHANGE OF INSTRUMENTS OF RATIFICATION CAN TAKE
PLACE.
A SEPARATE AND SELF-CONTAINED ORDINANCE IS REQUIRED
BECAUSE THERE IS NO EXISTING LEGISLATION WHICH COULD BE AMENDED
TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES.
/ THE SCHEDULE