TNAG-1333-FCO40-1765-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-1985 — Page 127

CONFIDENTIAL

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SCALE OF PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES FOR THE FIVE CHINESE MEMBERS

OF THE JLG WHEN IN LONDON AND HONG KONG AS ARE ACCORDED TO

DIPLOMATIC AGENTS. WE WOULD POINT OUT THAT ANNEX II DOES NOT

REFER TO PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES FOR SUPPORTING STAFF, BUT THAT

WE ASSUMED THE CHINESE COULD AGREE THAT THEY SHOULD BE NOTIFIED

AS MEMBERS OF THE RESPECTIVE EMBASSIES WHEN IN LONDON AND PEKING.

IN HONG KONG THE CHINESE COULD BE NOTIFIED AS MEMBERS OF THE

CHINESE VISA OFFICE.

5. ON VISAS WE WOULD WANT TO AVOID GRATUITOUS DISAGREEMENT WITH

THE CHINESE IN ADVANCE OF ANY SPECIFIC PROBLEMS THAT MIGHT ARISE. THE GENERAL QUESTION OF HONG KONG PARTICIPATION ON THE JLG MAY

ITSELF TURN OUT TO BE A CONTENTIOUS ONE. WE THEREFORE WOULD NOT/NOT

PROPOSE TO RAISE THE GENERAL QUESTION OF VISAS IN THE

ABSTRACT WITH THE CHINESE. IF THERE WAS A HONG KONG

REPRESENTATIVE WHOM THE CHINESE DECIDE TO TREAT DIFFERENTLY FROM

REPRESENTATIVES OF HMG WE WOULD WANT TO DECIDE IN THE LIGHT OF

ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES HOW WE WOULD REACT.

6.

WHEN WE SPEAK TO THE CHINESE ABOUT PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES

FOR THE JLG WE COULD AT THE SAME TIME ALSO EXPLORE INFORMALLY

WITH THEM THEIR THINKING ON THE STATUS OF CHINESE MEMBERS

OF THE LAND COMMISSION IN HONG KONG. WE CAN SEE NO ADVANTAGE IN

VOLUNTEERING PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES FOR THESE MEMBERS WHEN WE

ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DO SO, BUT WE AGREE THAT WE SHOULD BE CLEAR

ON THE CHINESE POSITION IN ORDER TO AVOID LAST MINUTE HICCUPS.

HOWE

HONG KONG AGREEMENT

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER) PS

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING

SIR J FREELAND MR BOYD

COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET

OFFICE

MR CARTLEDGE, CABINET OFFICE MR COLVIN, CABINET OFFICE

SIR P CRADOCK, NO 10 DOWNING ST SIR P CRADOCK, ROOM K195