TNAG-1362-FCO40-1808-Hong-Kong-Hansard-reports-and-minutes-of-the-meetings-of-the-1985 — Page 211

SPEECH BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY 17 APRIL 1985

PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES (JOINT LIAISON GROUP)

BILL 1985

SIR.

CLAUSE 10 OF ANNEX II TO THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT

DECLARATION PROVIDES THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE JOINT LIAISON

so

GROUP SHALL ENJOY DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES AS

APPROPRIATE WHEN IN THE THREE LOCATIONS FOR MEETINGS OF THE

GROUP, WHICH ARE BEIJING, LONDON AND HONG KONG. THE PURPOSE

OF THIS BILL IS TO FULFILL THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S OBLIGATION

UNDER THE TERMS OF ANNEX II TO PROVIDE DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES

AND IMMUNITIES FOR THE FIVE CHINESE MEMBERS OF THE JOINT

LIAISON GROUP FOR MEETINGS IN HONG KONG. THIS MUST BE DONE

BEFORE THE EXCHANGE OF INSTRUMENTS OF RATIFICATION CAN TAKE

PLACE.

A SEPARATE AND SELF-CONTAINED ORDINANCE IS REQUIRED

BECAUSE THERE IS NO EXISTING LEGISLATION WHICH COULD BE AMENDED

TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES.

/ THE SCHEDULE