TNAG-1493-FCO40-2051-Future-of-Hong-Kong-General-Agreement-on-Tariffs-and-Trade-(-1986 — Page 31

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

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(d) Be immune, together with their spouses and relatives dependent on them, from immigration restrictions and alien registration;

(e) Be accorded the same privileges in respect of exchange facilities as are accorded to the officials of comparable ranks forming part of diplomatic missions to the Swiss Federal Council;

(f) Be given, together with their spouses and relatives dependent on them, the same repatriation facilities in time of international crisis as diplomatic agents;

(g) Have the right to import free of duty their furniture and effects on the occasion of first taking up their post in Switzerland.

Section 16. In addition to the immunities and privileges specified in Section 15, the Secretary-General and all Assistant Secretaries-General and, if the Secretary-General should so desire, the chief administrative officer of the United Nations in Switzerland, shall be accorded in respect of them- selves, their spouses and minor children, the privileges and immunities, exemption and facilities accorded to diplomatic envoys in accordance with international law.

Section 17. Privileges and immunities are granted to officials in the interests of the United Nations and not for the personal benefit of the in- dividuals themselves. The Secretary-General shall have the right and the duty to waive the immunity of any official in any case where, in his opinion, the immunity would impede the course of justice and can be waived without prejudice to the interests of the United Nations. In the case of the Secretary- General, the Security Council shall have the right to waive immunity.

Section 18. The United Nations shall co-operate at all times with the appropriate Swiss authorities to facilitate the proper administration of justice, secure the observance of police regulations, and prevent the occur- rence of any abuse in connexion with the privileges, immunities and facilities mentioned in this article.

Article VI. Experts on missions for the United Nations

Section 19. Experts (other than officials coming within the scope of article V) performing missions for the United Nations shall be accorded such privileges and immunities as are necessary for the independent exercise of their functions during the period of their missions, including the time spent on journeys in connexion with their missions. In particular they shall be accorded:

(a) Immunity from personal arrest or detention and from seizure of their personal baggage;

(b) In respect of words spoken or written and acts done by them in the course of the performance of their mission, immunity from legal process of every kind. This immunity from legal process shall continue to be accorded notwithstanding that the persons concerned are no longer employed on missions for the United Nations;

(c) Inviolability for all papers and documents;

(d) For the purpose of their communications with the United Nations, the right to use codes and to receive papers or correspondence by courier or in sealed bags;

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(e) The same facilities in respect of currency or currency or exchange regulations as are accorded to representatives of foreign governments on temporary official missions;

(f) The same immunities and facilities in respect of their personal baggage as are accorded to diplomatic agents.

Section 20. Privileges and immunities are granted to experts in the interests of the United Nations and not for the personal benefit of the in- dividuals themselves. The Secretary-General shall have the right and the duty to waive the immunity of any expert in any case, where, in his opinion, the immunity would impede the course of justice and can be waived without prejudice to the interests of the United Nations.

Article VII. United Nations laissez-passer

Section 21. The United Nations may issue United Nations laissez-passer to its officials. These laissez-passer shall be recognized and accepted as valid travel documents by the Swiss authorities taking into account the provisions of Section 22.

Section 22. Applications for visas (where required) from the holders of United Nations laissez-passer, when accompanied by a certificate that they are travelling on the business of the United Nations, shall be dealt with as speedily as possible. In addition, such persons shall be granted facilities for speedy travel.

Section 23. Similar facilities to those specified in Section 22 shall be accorded to experts and other persons who, though not holders of United Nations laissez-passer, have a certificate that they are travelling on the business of the United Nations.

Section 24. The Secretary-General, Assistant Secretaries-General, Direc- tors and, if the Secretary-General should so desire, the chief administrative officer of the United Nations in Switzerland, travelling on United Nations laissez-passer on the business of the United Nations shall be granted the same facilities as are accorded to diplomatic envoys.

Section 25. The provisions of this article may be applied to the comparable officials of specialized agencies if the agreements for relationship made under Article 63 of the Charter so provide.

Article VIII. Settlement of disputes

Section 26. The United Nations shall make provision for appropriate modes of settlement of:

(a) Disputes arising out of contracts or other disputes of a private law character, to which the United Nations a party;

(b) Disputes involving any official of the United Nations who by reason of his official position enjoys immunity, if immunity has not been waived by the Secretary-General.

Section 27. Any dispute between the United Nations and the Swiss Federal Council concerning the interpretation or application of this Interim Arrangement or of any supplementary arrangement or agreement which is not settled by negotiation shall be submitted for decision to a board of three arbitrators of whom the first shall be appointed by the Swiss Federal Council,

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