XN000022-1977-10-12 — Page 12

11

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1977

HK HOPES TO JOIN ASIA PACIFIC TELECOMMUNITY

*****

HONG KONG HOPES TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE ASIA PACIFIC TELECOMMUNITY, OF WHICH THE UK GOVERNMENT IS NOT A MEMBER, THE HON. CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DENYS ROBERTS SAID TODAY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1977, SIR DENYS SAID: ONE OF THE CONDITIONS OF THE ASIA PACIFIC TELECOMMUNITY MEMBERSHIP, IS THAT MEMBERS SHOULD ACCORD TO THE TELECOMMUNITY AND ITS OFFICERS THE SAME PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES AS ARE GRANTED TO THE UNITED NATIONS AND ITS OFFICIALS.

HE SAID, TO ENABLE HONG KONG TO FULFIL THIS CONDITION OF MEMBERSHIP IT WAS NECESSARY TO AMEND THE DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES ORDINANCE SO AS TO ENABLE THE GOVERNOR TO CONFER PRIVILEGES AND

IMMUNITIES IN THE CASE OF AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION OF WHICH HONG KONG, BUT NOT THE UK, WAS A MEMBER.

AT PRESENT, THE GOVERNOR COULD ONLY CONFER IMMUNITIES AND PRIVILEGES ON AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION AND ITS STAFF, IF THE UNITED KINGDOM GOVERNMENT WAS A MEMBER OF THE ORGANISATION.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT WOULD NOT EMPOWER THE GOVERNOR TO MAKE SUCH AN ORDER IN RELATION TO AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION OF WHICH HONG KONG WAS NOT A MEMBER, BUT THE UK WAS.

SIR DENYS ENVISAGED CASES IN THE FUTURE WHERE IT WAS DESIRABLE FOR PRIVILEGES TO BE ACCORDED TO ORGANISATIONS OF WHICH THE UK WAS A MEMBER, THOUGH HONG KONG WAS NOT. HE PROPOSED TO ISSUE AN AMENDMENT TO THIS EFFECT AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE OF THE BILL.

THE DEBATE ON THE MOTION WAS ADJOURNED.

/12.