TNAG-1097-FCO40-1347-Chinese-visa-office-in-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 177

GR 350

CONFIDENTIAL

FM PEKING 020700Z MAR 81

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 119 OF 2/3

CONFIDENTIAL

see

INFO SAVING TO HONG KONG

+110

MIPT: CHINESE VISA OFFICE IN HONG KONG

TOP COPY

тор

сору

MICK

3441

-

1.

THE TEXT OF THE CHINESE MEMORANDUM OF 27 FEBRUARY IS AS MAR 1981

FOLLOWS:

INDEX

до

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:

A

Action

13.3.

Pad 1313

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.

11) 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 NOT 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.

X

CRADOCK

LIMITED

HK&GD

FED

PCD

LEGAL ADVISERS

SIR E YOUDE

MR DONALD

THIS TELEGRAM

WAS NOT ADVANCED

CONFIDENTIAL