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The Central People's
Government (CPG), which under the Basic
Law is responsible for foreign affairs
relating to the HKSAR, established the
Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs (MFA Office) in Hong
Kong on July 1, 1997. The Government has
liaised closely with the MFA Office since
then in the following areas:
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(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); |
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(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 |
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(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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