TNAG-1378-FCO40-1826-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-Hong-Kong-Bill-1985 — Page 20

CONFIDENTIAL

14

the Group which will take place in London. This is designed to meet our obligation under Annex II of the

Joint Declaration which provides for the creation of a

Joint Liaison Group of five British and five Chinese

members to meet in London, Peking and Hong Kong.

Paragraph 10 of that Annex provides that "members of the

Joint Laison Group shall enjoy diplomatic privileges and

immunities as appropriate when in the three locations".

This section of the Bill therefore accords diplomatic

privileges and immunities to the five Chinese members of

the Group who attend meetings of the Group in London.

Existing legislation would not cover this rather unusual category of representatives and we therefore need to

legislate specifically to cover their case.

My Lords, as my rt hon and learned Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary said in another place the signature of the agreement and the passage of this Bill represent

the beginning of a process and not the end. There is much

to be done between now and

1997. It will require the

closest cooperation between ourselves and the Chinese

Government. It will also require the closest consultation with the people of Hong Kong.

CONFIDENTIAL