Hong Kong Regulations

THE UNITED NATIONS - PARAGRAPH 15

(Past version on 30/06/1997).

Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 81 of 1999 s. 3 Except in so
far as in any particular case any privilege or immunity is waived by the
government whom they represent before the Court, the agents, counsel and
advocates of parties before the Court shall enjoy-

   (a)  when engaged on their missions before the Court and during their
        journeys to and from the place where the Court is sitting in
        connection with such missions, immunity from personal arrest or
        detention and from seizure of their personal baggage and inviolability
        for all papers and documents;

   (b)  immunity from legal process of every kind in respect of words spoken
        or written and all acts done by them in this capacity;

   (c)  when engaged on their missions before the Court and during their
        journeys to and from the place where the Court is sitting in
        connection with such mission, the like exemption or relief from taxes
        as is accorded to an envoy of a foreign sovereign power accredited to
        the Government of the People's Republic of China, save that the relief
        allowed shall not include relief from customs or excise duties except
        in respect of goods imported as part of their personal baggage. They
        shall not, where incidence of any form of tax depends upon residence,
        be deemed to be resident in Hong Kong during any period when they are
        present in Hong Kong while exercising these functions or during their
        journey to and from the place of meeting. The provisions of this
        paragraph shall not apply to a Chinese national whose usual place of
        abode is in Hong Kong. (80 of 1982 s. 3; 81 of 1999 s. 3) The
        provisions of this Article do not apply to any agents, counsel or
        advocates acting on behalf of the Central People's Government in Hong
        Kong or to any Chinese national acting on behalf of any other
        Government. (80 of 1982 s. 3; 81 of 1999 s. 3)