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exemption from taxation and customs duties.
This paragraph is unlikely to be controversial.
Although we cannot
rule out objections to the resulting increase in the number of persons in London enjoying privileges and immunities, Ministers can reasonably point out that it only amounts to an increase of five. Moreover the individuals concerned are likely to be in London for
only a few days a year.
It might be suggested that we could have fulfilled our obligations under Annex I I simply by requesting that the Chinese should attach their members of the Joint Liaison Group to the Chinese Embassy in London. If however the Chinese were to refuse then we would not be able to fulfil our obligations under Annex II. The only safe way to proceed therefore is to legislate to cover this case. The Joint Liaison Group could not be covered under the International Organisations Act 1968 because it is neither an international organisation (Section 1) nor an international conference (Section
6).
This paragraph of the Bill will provide all the privileges
and immunities of the person, including inviolability of all papers they carry with them, etc as well as enabling the Secretary of State to issue conclusive certificates on any fact relevant
relevant to privileges and immunities. We would expect the Chinese delegation to the Joint Liaison Group to be based at the Chinese Embassy in London, and SO their archives kept at the Embassy, and their communications through the Embassy's facilities would be covered by the privileges and immunities enjoyed by the Embassy.
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of experts who are not
Annex II provides for
The Bill does not deal with the status
members of the Group, or supporting staff. each side to send up to 20 supporting staff. There is no obligation on us in the agreement to provide privileges and immunities to anyone other than members of the Group. We will however wish to ensure that any British staff sent to Peking enjoy appropriate immunities, and we can expect the Chinese to ask for reciprocal arrangements. This can however be the subject of discussions with the Chinese and need not require legislation.
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