ANNEX B.
CONFIDENTIAL
MIPT: CHINESE VISA OFFICE IN HONG KONG
1. THE TEXT OF THE CHINESE MEMORANDUM OF 27 FEBRUARY IS AS FOLLOWS:
THE CONSULAR DEPARTMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND THE EMBASSY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM IN CHINA HELD TALKS IN BEIJING ON 1981 ON MATTERS RELATING TO THE VISA OFFICE
OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN HONGKONG AND REACHED THE FOLLOWING UNDERSTANDING:
1) IN ORDER TO MEET THE GROWING NEED FOR ECONOMIC, TRADE, TOURIST, CULTURAL AND OTHER EXCHANGES BETWEEN CHINA'S MAINLAND AND HONGKONG, THE HONGKONG BRANCH OF THE NCNA, UPON AUTHORIZATION, AND THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES IN HONGKONG ORALLY AGREED ON 9 AUGUST 1979 THAT THE CHINESE SIDE WAS TO SET UP IN HONGKONG A VISA OFFICE OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.
1) TO ENSURE THE SMOOTH FUNCTIONING OF THE SAID VISA OFFICE IN HONGKONG, IT WILL ENJOY THE FOLLOWING PRIVILEGES:
A) EXEMPTION FROM TAXES ON ITS REVENUE,
B) THE RIGHT TO USE CYPHER,
C) EXEMPTION FROM TAXES ON SALARIES OR EMOLUMENTS OF OFFICIALS AND STAFF MEMBERS FROM CHINA'S MAINLAND,
D) COURIER SERVICE TO BE EXEMPT FROM SEARCH,
E) THE PREMISES, DOCUMENTS AND ARCHIVES TO BE EXEMPT FROM SEARCH, OFFICIALS OF THE HONGKONG AUTHORITIES NOT TO ENTER THE PREMISES OF THE SAID VISA OFFICE IN HONGKONG WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION FROM THE DIRECTOR OR THE OFFICIAL DESIGNATED BY HIM. F) THE OFFICIALS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS FROM CHINA'S MAINLAND IDT TO BE LIABLE TO ARREST OR DETENTION, IN THE CASE OF A CRIMINAL OR CIVIL COMPLAINT AGAINST ITS CHINA-BASED OFFICIALS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS, THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES IN HONGKONG TO SETTLE THE MATTER THROUGH DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS,
G) EXEMPTION FROM TAXES ON REAL ESTATE,
H) EXEMPTION FJOM TAXES ON GOODS IMPORTED AND EXPORTED BY THE OFFICE AND THOSE FOR OFFICE WORK BOUGHT IN HONGKONG,
CRADOCK
LIMITED
HK&GD
FED
PCD
LEGAL ADVISERS
SIR E YOUDE
NK DONALD
THIS TELEGRAM
WAS NOT ADVANCED
CONFIDENTIAL
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