TNAG-0211-FCO40-247-Reorganisation-of-Hong-Kong-Government-Office-in-London-1969 — Page 43

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his staff (as with certain offices and quarters of other FCO subsidiaries here) are exempted, provided that they are not registered in the name of a private individual.

(b) By virtue of section 35 of the Road Traffic Ordinance, Chapter 220, from the payment of vehicle registration fees under the Road Traffic (Registration & Licensing of Vehicles) Regulations, Chapter 220, and from first registration tax under the Motor Vehicles (First Registration Tax) Ordinance, (Chapter 330), in respect of motor vehicles which are the property of the Crown. exemptions do not extend to vehicles which are the private property of the Commissioner or his staff, and only therefore favour his official car and one which carries FCO bags and mail.

These

The position in regard to import duties levied under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, Chapter 109, is that under section 3(4), the Ordinance does not apply to goods which are the property of or imported or purchased for the Governor or for the Government of the United Kingdom or of the Colony; in practice this only applies to official as opposed to personal exemption and no hydrocarbon oil, liquor, tobacco, table waters or methyl alcohol have ever been imported by the British Trade Commission on this basis though petrol used in the two official cars and liquor and tobacco for official entertainment would qualify for exemption from duty if the British Trade Commission so applied.

Personal exemption is affected by the application of the Trade Commissioners Privileges Ordinance, Chapter 192, to Trade Commissioners which lays down that taxes, duties and fees may be remitted if similar treatment is accorded by the governments concerned to UK representatives. In the case of the British Trade Commissioner (as opposed to other Commonwealth Trade Commissioners) this reciprocity can have no application and thus he receives no personal remissions, nor has any British Trade Commissioner

questioned this.

/ I suggest

CONFIDENTIAL