The Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in the People's Republic of
The Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in the People's Republic of
China presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
People's Republic of China and, on behalf of the Government of the Kingdom
of Belgium, has the honour to confirm that, in accordance with Section XI
of the Annex I of the Joint Declaration of the Government of the People's
Republic of China and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland on the Question of Hong Kong and Article 157
of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the
People's Republic of China, which stipulates that "Consular and other
official missions established in Hong Kong by States which have formal
diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China may be
maintained", the two sides have, through friendly consultations, reached
the following Agreement concerning the maintenance of the
Consulate-General of Belgium in the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region of the People's Republic of China following the resumption of the
exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong by the Government of the People's
Republic of China on 1 July 1997:
1. The Government of the People's Republic of China agrees to the
maintenance by the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium of its
Consulate-General in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the
People's Republic of China. The consular district of the Royal Belgium's
Consulate-General shall be the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
2. The Government of the People's Republic of China takes note of the
consular function which the Kingdom of Belgium 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 Government of the People's Republic of China shall, in
accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 24 April
1963 and relevant laws and regulations of the People's Republic of China,
accord necessary assistance and facilities to the Consulate-General of
Belgium in the exercise of consular functions.
4. The operation of the Consulate-General of Belgium in the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region shall be regulated by the Vienna Convention
on Consular Relations of 24 April 1963.
Consular matters shall be handled on the basis of equality and mutual
benefit and in a friendly and cooperative spirit.
If the above agreement is confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
on behalf of the Government of the People's Republic of China in a Note of
reply, this note and the reply from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall
constitute an Agreement between the two Governments and shall enter into
force on 1 July 1997.
The Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in the People's Republic of
China avails itself of this opportunity to present to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs the assurances of its highest consideration.
Beijing, January 28, 1997.
To the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of the People's Republic of China
BEIJING.
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