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exemption from taxation and customs duties.
Although we cannot
in the number of
This paragraph is unlikely to be controversial.
rule out objections to the resulting increase
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 ΙΙ 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
Organisations Act 1968 because it is neither an international
organisation (Section 1) nor an international conference (Section
6).
covered under the International
to
This paragraph of the Bill will provide all the privileges and
immunities of the
the person, including inviolability of all papers they carry with them, etc as well as enabling the Secretary of State
issue conclusive certificates on any fact relevant to privileges and
immunities.
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
We
through the Embassy's facilities would be covered by the privileges
and immunities enjoyed by the Embassy.
The Bill does not deal with the status of experts who are not
members of the Group, or supporting staff. Annex ΙΙ provides for
each side to send up to 20 supporting staff. There is no obligation
on
us in the agreement to provide privileges and immunities to
any one 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. Thi $ can however be
the subject of discussions with
the Chinese and need not require legislation.
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