FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1984
VISA OFFICE PRIVILEGES SPELT OUT
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A CHINESE VISA OFFICE (PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES) BILL 1984, WHICH SPELLS OUT THE PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES TO BE GRANTED TO THE OFFICE, IS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY.
THE BILL ALSO PROVIDES FOR THE NECESSARY CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO THE CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL (PASSAGE TAX) ORDINANCE, THE DUTIABLE COMMODITIES REGULATIONS AND THE STAMP DUTY ORDINANCE, TO EXEMPT THE VISA OFFICE AND ITS OFFICERS FROM VARIOUS TAXES AND DUTIES, IN KEEPING WITH ITS STATUS AND FUNCTIONS.
SINCE THE VISA OFFICE WAS OPENED IN HONG KONG IN NOVEMBER 1981, TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN IN FORCE TO GRANT THE OFFICE, THROUGH ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION, PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES APPROPRIATE TO ITS STATUS AND FUNCTIONS.
IT IS NOW POSSIBLE TO GIVE LEGISLATIVE EFFECT TO THE PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES FOLLOWING AN EXCHANGE OF NOTES BETWEEN THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN PEKING AND THE CHINESE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, WHICH TOOK PLACE IN APRIL THIS YEAR, AND WHICH ACCOMPANIED THE SIGNING OF A UK-CHINA CONSULAR AGREEMENT DURING THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY'S VISIT TO PEKING.
THE UK-CHINA CONSULAR AGREEMENT PROVIDES AMONG OTHER THINGS FOR THE SETTING UP OF CONSULATES-GENERAL IN MANCHESTER AND SHANGHAI.
THE CHINESE VISA OFFICE (PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES) BILL 1984 IS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON JULY 11 AND IS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE ITS THIRD READING ON JULY 25.
ANYONE WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON ITS PROVISIONS MAY WRITE TO UMELCO, AT SWIRE HOUSE, 12TH FLOOR, CHATER ROAD, OR TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS, AT THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG.
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TWO NAMED TO LAW REFORM COMMISSION
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THE CHAIRMAN OF THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION, MR MICHAEL THOMAS, TODAY ANNOUNCED THE APPOINTMENT BY THE GOVERNOR OF MISS CHRISTINE LOH AND MR GRAHAM CHENG TO THE COMMISSION.
MISS CHRISTINE LOH WHO IS 28 YEARS OF AGE, WAS BORN IN HONG
SHE KONG AND EDUCATED IN ENGLAND, AND IS A COMMODITIES BROKER.
IS CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG OBSERVERS AND TAKES A WIDE INTEREST
IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. SHE IS CURRENTLY SERVING AS A MEMBER OF THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION'S SUB-COMMITTEE ON THE LEGAL EFFECTS OF AGE.
MR GRAHAM CHENG WHO IS 47, WAS BORN IN CHINA AND CAME TO LIVE IN HONG KONG IN 1947.
/HE I
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