TNAG-1281-FCO40-1632-Chinese-visa-office-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 64

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CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM PEKING 170745Z OCT 83

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1034 OF 17 OCTOBER

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG

MIPT: CHINESE VISA OFFICE IN HONG KONG

1. TEXT OF CHINESE RESPONSE TO OUR DRAFT PROPOSAL IS AS FOLLOWS.

BEGINS:

HKK 349/1

RECEIVED IN REGISÅRY

THE CONSULAR DEPARTMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA PRESENTS ITS COMPLIMENTS TO THE EMBASSY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND IN CHINA AND HAS THE HONOUR TO CONFIRM THAT THE REPRESENTATIVES OF BOTH SIDES HAVE HELD TALKS IN BEIJING IN 1983 ON MATTERS RELATING TO THE MINISTRY'S VISA OFFICE IN HONGKONG AND REACHED THE FOLLOWING UNDERSTANDING, WHICH IS ADDITIONAL TO THE UNDERSTANDING RECORDED IN THE MEMORANDUM OF 23 SEPTEMBER 1981.

1. THE VISA OFFICE WILL ENJOY THE FOLLOWING PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES IN ADDITION TO THOSE SET OUR IN PARAGRAPH 2 (A) TO (C) OF ARTICLE OF THE MOMORANDUM OF 23 SEPTEMBER 1981:

1) INVIOLABILITY OF ITS PREMISES, DOCUMENTS AND ARCHIVES: 2) EXEMPTION FROM TAXATION ON ITS PREMISES AND ON THE RESIDENCE OF THE OFFICER IN CHARGE:

•

3 CCT 1983

DEEL OFFICER

INDEX

3) PERSONAL INVIOLABILITY OF ITS OFFICERS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS, WHO WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ARREST OR DETENTION PENDING TRIAL. THE QUALIFICATION CONTAINED IN PARAGRAPH 3 OF THE BRITISH MEMORANDUM OF 19 JUNE 1981 IS WITHDRAWN BY THE BRITISH SIDE:

4) IMMUNITY FOR ITS OFFICERS FROM JURISDICTION OF THE JUDICIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITIES TO THE EXTENT AS IS APPROPRIATE IN THE LIGHT OF ARTICLE 43 OF THE VIENNA CONVENTION ON CONSULAR RELATIONS'' APPLICABLE TO CONSULAR OFFICERS:

5) EXEMPTION FROM DUTIES AND TAXES ON GOODS IMPORTED INTO, EXPORTED FROM AND PURCHASED IN HONGKONG FOR OFFICIAL USE, AND ON GOODS IMPORTED INTO, EXPORTED FROM AND PURCHASED IN HONGKONG BY ITS OFFICESS FOR THEIR OWN PRIVATE USE:

6) EXEMPTION OF THE LUGGAGE OF ITS OFFICERS FROM INSPECTION EXCEPT WHERE THERE ARE SERIOUS GROUNDS FOR BELIEVING THAT IT CONTAINS ARTICLES WHOSE IMPORT OR EXPORT IS PROHIBITED BY THE LOCAL LAW OR CONTROLLED BY THE LOCAL QUARANTINE REGULATIONS, IN WHICH CASE INSPECTION SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT ONLY IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ABOVE-MENTIONED OFFICERS OR REPRESENTATIVES APPOINTED BY THEM:

7) IN THIS PARAGRAPH THE TERM " OFFICERS' MEANS OFFICERS WHO ARE HOLDERS OF DIPLOMATIC, OFFICIAL OR SERVICE PASSPORTS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL

12. IN

PA

RECISTRY

Action Taken

see (92)

913 95 96 97

IC3

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(103) (102