TNAG-1349-FCO40-1790-Chinese-visa-office-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 177

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CHINESE VISA OFFICE IN HONG KONG: DRAFT UNDERSTANDING

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China

presents its compliments to the British Embassy in China and has

the honour to confirm that the representatives of the two sides have held talks in Beijing on matters relating to the Ministry's Visa Office in Hong Kong and reached the following understanding, which is additional to the understanding recorded in the memorandum

of 23 September 1981.

The Visa Office will enjoy the following privileges and immunities in addition to those set out in paragraph 2 (a) to (c) of Article 1 of the Memorandum of 23 September 1981:

1.

Inviolability of the premises, documents and archives of the

Visa Office.

2.

Exemption from taxation on the premises of the Visa Office and

on the residence of the officer in charge.

3. The Visa Office may employ all appropriate means of communi- cation, including the use of diplomatic couriers, in maintaining

contact with the Government of the People's Republic of China and

any Chinese diplomatic missions and consular posts wherever they

are situated. The diplomatic couriers will be provided with

official documents indicating their status and the number of pack-

ages constituting the diplomatic bag. The diplomatic bag may not

be opened or detained. In the performance of their functions, the

diplomatic couriers will be protected by the British Authorities

in Hong Kong. The diplomatic couriers will enjoy personal inviol-

ability and will not be liable to any form of arrest or detention.

CONFIDENTIAL

/The