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sit
on
the
the question of who will
During the parliamentary debate on the
The
Bill does
not
deal
with
Joint Liaison
Group.
agreement
there
was
pressure
to
include Unofficial
Members of the
We took
Hong Kong Executive and Legislative Councils on the Group. the line that Hong Kong Government officials would sit on the Group, and that we would consult fully with Unofficials in Hong Kong, but that this was a diplomatic body and it would not be appropriate for Unofficials to sit on it. We can expect pressure for Unofficials to sit on the Group to continue, although strictly speaking it is not
relevant to the Bill.
and
We might also face questions about the work of the Joint Liaison
Group,
its influence
The on the administration of Hong Kong. working procedures of the Joint Liaison Group remain to be discussed with the Chinese. The agreement makes clear, however, that the Joint Liaison Group is not an organ of power and will play no part in Hong Kong's administration.
suggestion
made during the
debate Parliamentary
Joint
Another
was that
Parliament should hold an
annual debate on the work of the
Liaison Group. Ministers took the line then and on subsequent occasions that accountability to Parliament is important, as will be the interest shown in Hong Kong by Parliament itself. But they have
committed themselves to
not
debate.
any
set
time table for
Parliamentary
in the
is
the inclusion of
I t i s
that possible
this provision in the Bill
might prompt an attack on the extension of diplomatic privileges and immunities in general. In response we should make it clear that the essential element in the conduct of foreign
Any suggestion that the immunities conferred by the Convention should be restricted should be considered in light of the vulnerability of many British Embassies overseas in countries which
are hostile towards
not firmly
Vienna Convention
relations.
us
or in which the
law is rule of
established.
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