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Following is a question by the Hon Paul Tse and a written reply by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Stephen Lam, in the Legislative Council today (November 2):
Question:
Regarding the services provided by the Protocol Division of the Government Secretariat for the 59 Consulates-General, 62 Consulates and five Officially Recognized Bodies in Hong Kong, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether specific guidelines have been formulated to let the aforesaid three categories of bodies know the facilities and support services which may be provided by the Protocol Division to them;
(b) whether the facilities and support services provided by the Protocol Division to the aforesaid three categories of bodies are classified into different grades or are different according to protocol requirements; if so, of the actual differences and the justifications for such differences; whether such differences will have any impact on the treatment received by the representatives in Hong Kong's overseas offices under the principle of reciprocity; and
(c) how and through what channels members of the public and the media can monitor the operation of the Division?
Reply:
President,
(a) The Protocol Division has already provided detailed information in respect of its facilities and supporting services to relevant Consulates-General, Consulates and Officially Recognized Bodies.
(b) The Protocol Division provides supporting services to members of the Consular Posts and Officially Recognized Bodies in Hong Kong in accordance with the "Vienna Convention on Consular Relations", "Regulations of the People's Republic of China Concerning Consular Privileges and Immunities", "Regulations of the People's Republic of China Concerning Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities" and relevant bilateral agreements signed between the Central People's Government and the respective sending States or International Organizations (IOs). The level of privileges and immunities enjoyed by members of the Consular Posts and IOs are matters of foreign affairs for which the Central People's Government is responsible. Hong Kong government officials who work in overseas offices are not consular or diplomatic staff. Therefore, their entitlements in the receiving States are not linked to the privileges and immunities enjoyed by members of the Consular Posts and IOs in Hong Kong.
(c) Same as any other government department, the Protocol Division is subject to internal monitoring and monitoring by independent bodies such as the Audit Commission and the Office of the Ombudsman. The Protocol Division will also positively respond to enquiries and comments of the public and the media.
Ends/Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Issued at HKT 12:07
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