19-MAR-1993 11:38
PROTOCOL DIVISION
2
+ 852 521 7621
P.02
(d).
Liability of give evidence.
A consular employee or member of service staff shall not decline to give evidence. If a consular officer declines to do so, no coercive measure or penalty may be applied to him. However, members of a consular post are under no obligation to give evidence concerning matters connected with the exercise of their functions.
I hope that this
material is of some help for the purpose of initial comparisons. But I stress that it is very general stuff, and we shall need to look at the individual points in detail. It may be possible to bridge some of the gaps between Cap 190 and the VCCR by administrative action or informal arrangements, and this is an area we are examining at the moment. But we would not wish to go beyond any of the P & I afforded to the consulates general for the reasons that we gave in our telno 319.
I shall be
very pleased to see you during your (If the departure date from UK of 17 letter is correct you will be here
visit to Bong Kong. March quoted in your already, and I am writing to any empty desk!).
Incidentally, Cherry Ling has moved to another appointment in Trade and Industry Branch and Mr Alan Fung has taken over her responsibilities for the EC Office.
Yours sincerely. Vir wannington
( V L Warrington ) Director of Protocol
TOTAL P.02.