Article 13 of the Basic Law of the HKSAR provides that the CPG shall be responsible for the foreign affairs relating to the HKSAR, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC shall establish an office in Hong Kong to deal with foreign affairs.
The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC in the HKSAR (MFA Office) was established by the CPG to deal with foreign affairs relating to the HKSAR. Since July 1, 1997, the HKSAR Government has established effective communication channels with the MFA Office in handling the external affairs of the HKSAR, in strict accordance with the Basic Law. The HKSAR Government liaises closely with the MFA Office in the following areas:
| (a) |
participation in international organisations and conferences — for instance, obtaining the CPG's approval for HKSAR Government officials to participate as members of the PRC delegation in international conferences limited to states (Basic Law Article 152); |
| (b) |
negotiation and conclusion of international agreements with foreign states and regions — for example, obtaining the CPG's specific authorisation for the negotiation and conclusion of Air Services Agreements with foreign states in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Basic Law (Basic Law Article 133); and |
| (c) |
matters relating to the establishment of consular missions in the HKSAR — the establishment of foreign consular and other official or semi-official missions is a matter for the MFA Office (Basic Law Article 157). The HKSAR Government is responsible for the day-to-day management of the consular corps, such as the issue of consular identity cards, actual provision of privileges and immunities and ensuring the security of consular premises. |
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