XN000022-1990-04-04 — Page 40

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 1990

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THE PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES (JOINT LIAISON GROUP) WAS ENACTED IN MAY 1985 TO GRANT DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES AND IN HONG KONG TO CHINESE MEMBERS OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP.

ORDINANCE IMMUNITIES

"FOLLOWING AN EXCHANGE OF NOTES BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND CHINESE AMENDED AND GOVERNMENTS IN JULY OF THE SAME YEAR, THE ORDINANCE WAS RETITLED SO AS TO EXTEND SIMILAR PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES TO EXPERTS AND SUPPORTING STAFF OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP AS WELL AS TO

LAND COMMISSION, AND MEMBERS

SUPPORTING STAFF OF THE SECRETARY SAID.

"AT

**

CHINESE

THE

CHIEF

BY

PRESENT, DEPENDANTS OF THESE OFFICIALS ARE NOT COVERED

PRIVILEGES AND THE ORDINANCE AND ARE THEREFORE NOT ENTITLED TO ANY IMMUNITIES WHILE IN HONG KONG," HE SAID.

DIPLOMATS

OFFICIALS

"IT IS NORMAL DIPLOMATIC PRACTICE FOR DEPENDANTS OF AND OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND TECHNICAL STAFF IN A DIPLOMATIC MISSION TO RECEIVE THE SAME

AS IMMUNITIES PRIVILEGES CONCERNED," SIR DAVID NOTED.

AND

THE

PRIVILEGES

"THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ALREADY EXTENDS APPROPRIATE AND IMMUNITIES TO DEPENDANTS OF OFFICIALS OF THE JOINT LIAISON WHILE THEY ARE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM; AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT

HE SAID. THE SAME WHILE THE BRITISH TEAM ARE IN CHINA,'

"

GROUP DOES

DEPENDANTS OF

COMMISSION PRACTICE;

"THE GRANTING OF PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES TO CHINESE OFFICIALS OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP AND THE LAND WOULD THEREFORE BE CONSISTENT WITH INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC IT WOULD ALSO BRING THE ARRANGEMENTS IN HONG KONG INTO LINE WITH THOSE 17 SIR DAVID THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA,

IN SAID.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

BILI TO AMEND LAW ON COMPETENCE AND COMPELLABILITY

THE OBJECT OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 IS TO AMEND THE LAW GOVERNING THE COMPETENCE AND COMPELLABILITY SPOUSES ΤΟ GIVE EVIDENCE IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON JEREMY MATHEWS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, MR MATHEWS SAID THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION IMPLEMENTS RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION.

THE

LAW REFORM COMMISSION RECOMMENDED A SERIES OF IMPROVEMENTS TO THE LAW OF COMPETENCE AND COMPELLABILITY TO ACHIEVE A BALANCE BETWEEN, ON THE ONE HAND, THE INTERESTS OF JUSTICE, AND ON THE OTHER, THE ATM OF INTERFERING AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE WITH RELATIONS BETWEEN MARRIED COUPLES AND THE FAMILY.

/"A WITNESS

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