Excellency,
Excellency,
I have the honour to refer to recent meetings between our two
Governments on the maintenance by the Government of Finland of its
Consulate General in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the
People's Republic of China and propose the following as an understanding
between our two Governments:
1. The Government of the People's Republic of China agrees to the
maintenance by the Government of Finland of its Consulate General in the
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.
2. The Government of the People's Republic of China takes note of the
consular function which Finland performs in Macao and agrees to the
continuation of this function after the Government of the People's
Republic of China resumes the exercise of sovereignty over Macao with
effect from 20 December 1999.
3. The operations of the Consulate General of Finland in the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region are to be regulated by the Vienna Convention
on Consular Relations of 24 April 1963. Consular matters are to be handled
on the basis of equality and mutual benefit and in a friendly and
cooperative spirit.
If the above is acceptable to Your Excellency's Government may I
suggest that this letter, together with Your Excellency's affirmative
reply, constitute an understanding between the Government of the Republic
of Finland and the Government of the People's Republic of China, which
enters into force on 1 July 1997.
Accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
Tarja Halonen
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland
His Excellency Qian Qichen
Vice-Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs
of the People's Republic of China
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