TNAG-1768-FCO40-2522-Hong-Kong-and-the-Multilateral-Investment-Guarantee-Agency-(-1988 — Page 105

CLAUSE 3:

PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES:

SUPPLEMENTARIES

1.

Will this not lead to more abuses by privileged and immune

people? As I have said, the privileges and immunities covered by this clause are the minimum commensurate with our obligation under

international law and custom to ensure the unencumbered work of the

organisation. They are not, in my view, likely to lead to abuse. MIGA will have its principal office in Washington, and there is no present intention for it to establish an office in Britain. If it subsequently established such an office, it would be necessary for

privileges and immunities to apply here to staff and assets in this

country. As I said, immunity from legal process will apply to MIGA

officials with respect only to acts performed in their official

capacity.

2.

Precisely how will the VAT refund system, referred to in

subpara 4 of Clause 3, be operated? Conditions currently in force

are:

Original invoices must be submitted to the Foreign and

Commonwealth Office with all claims, on form TX15. They

should be dated, describe the goods or services purchased,

and show both the cost and the VAT element.

Evidence of payment, in the form of a receipt or of a

cancelled cheque, must be submitted with each invoice.

Each claim must be accompanied by a schedule, in duplicate,

listing the purchases on which VAT has been charged.

Any documents that are required to be returned must be

submitted in duplicate, so that a copy may be retained by

the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Claims should be made at regular intervals, and must be

restricted to purchases made not more than one year prior to

the date of application for refund.

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