Cap. 558 sub. leg. J

International Organizations (Privileges and Immunities) (ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office) Order(Cap. 558, section 3)(Enacting provision omitted—E.R. 1 of 2016) [27 April 2016] 1. (Omitted as spent—E.R. 1 of 2016) 2. Interpretation In this Order—Agreement (《協議》) means the Agreement referred to in section 3(1);AMRO (研究辦公室) means the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (which is translated as “東盟10+3宏觀經濟研究辦公室” in this Order) established by the Agreement. 3. Provisions of Agreement having force of law in Hong Kong (1) It is declared that the provisions of the Agreement Establishing ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (which is translated as “《關於設立東盟10+3宏觀經濟研究辦公室的協議》” in this Order)# done in Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America on 10 October 2014 as specified in the Schedule—(a) have the force of law in Hong Kong; and(b) for that purpose are to be construed in accordance with subsections (3), (4) and (5).(2) A Chinese translation of the provisions of the Agreement referred to in subsection (1) is also set out in the Schedule.(3) In applying Articles 16, 18 and 19(b) and (c) of the Agreement, member (which is translated as “成員” in this Order) is to be construed as meaning a member of AMRO.(4) In applying Article 19 of the Agreement, local citizens or nationals (which is translated as “當地公民或國民” in this Order) is to be construed as meaning Chinese nationals or Hong Kong permanent residents.(5) In applying Articles 19 and 21 of the Agreement, experts performing missions for AMRO (which is translated as “為研究辦公室執行任務的專家” in this Order) is to be construed as meaning professionals carrying out AMRO’s purpose and functions under contract with AMRO. Note: #The Agreement Establishing ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (which is translated as “《關於設立東盟10+3宏觀經濟研究辦公室的協議》” in this Order) was done in a single original in the English language. Schedule [s. 3]Provisions of Agreement Having Force of Law in Hong Kong CHAPTER 4STATUS, PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES Article 16Purposes of Status, Privileges and Immunities The legal status, privileges, immunities, and exemptions set out in this Agreement shall be accorded to AMRO in the territory of each member to enable AMRO to effectively exercise its purpose and functions. Article 17Legal Status of AMRO AMRO shall have full legal personality and, in particular, full legal capacity to: (a) enter into contracts; (b) acquire and dispose of immovable and movable property; and (c) institute legal proceedings. Article 18Privileges and Immunities of AMRO (1) AMRO shall enjoy immunity from every form of legal process except to the extent that it expressly waives its immunity for the purpose of any proceedings or under the terms of any contract. (2) The property and assets of AMRO shall, wherever located and by whomsoever held, be immune from search, requisition, confiscation, expropriation or any other form of seizure, taking or foreclosure by executive or legislative action. (3) The archives of AMRO, and all documents belonging to it, or held by it, shall be inviolable. (4) To the extent necessary to carry out its functions, all property and assets of AMRO shall be free from restrictions, regulations, controls and moratoria of any nature. (5) Official communications of AMRO shall be accorded by each member treatment not less favourable than that it accords to the official communications of any other member. (6) No censorship shall be applied to the official correspondence and other official communications of AMRO. Nothing in this Article shall be construed to preclude the adoption of appropriate security precautions to be determined by agreement between a member and AMRO. (7) AMRO, its assets, property, income, and its operations and transactions shall be exempt from all taxation and from all customs duties. AMRO shall also be exempt from any obligation for the payment, withholding or collection of any tax or duty. Notwithstanding this, it is understood, however, that AMRO shall not claim exemption from taxes which are, in fact, no more than charges for public utility services. Article 19Privileges and Immunities of AMRO Personnel Deputies and their alternates, members of the Advisory Panel, the Director and staff of AMRO, and experts performing missions for AMRO (hereinafter referred to as “AMRO Personnel”): (a) shall be immune from legal process with respect to words spoken and written and acts performed by them in their official capacity and shall enjoy inviolability in respect of their official papers and documents except when AMRO waives this immunity; (b) where they are not local citizens or nationals, shall be granted the same immunities from immigration restrictions, alien registration requirements and national service obligations and the same facilities as regards exchange restrictions as are accorded by each member to the representatives and staff of comparable rank of any other member; (c) shall be granted the same treatment in respect of travelling facilities as is accorded by each member to the representatives and staff of comparable rank of any other member; and (d) where they are not local citizens or nationals, shall be exempt from taxation on the salaries and emoluments paid to them by AMRO. … Article 21Waiver of Immunity (1) Privileges and immunities are granted to AMRO Personnel in the interest of AMRO only and not for the personal benefit of the individuals themselves. (2) The Executive Committee may waive to such extent and upon such conditions as it determines any of the immunities conferred under this Chapter in respect of Deputies and their alternates, members of the Advisory Panel, and the Director. (3) The Director may waive any such immunity in respect of any staff of and experts performing missions for AMRO other than himself or herself. … (Chinese Translation) 第4章地位、特權及豁免權 第16條地位、特權及豁免權的宗旨 每個成員須在其領土內，給予研究辦公室本協議列明的法律地位、特權、豁免權及免繳權，以令研究辦公室有效履行其宗旨及職能。 第17條研究辦公室的法律地位 研究辦公室具有完全法人資格，尤其具有完全法律行為能力以： (a) 訂立合約； (b) 取得和處置不動產及動產；及 (c) 提起法律程序。 第18條研究辦公室的特權及豁免權 (1) 研究辦公室享有各種方式的法律程序的豁免權，但在研究辦公室為任何法律程序的目的或根據任何合約條款，以明示方式放棄其豁免權的範圍內，則屬例外。 (2) 研究辦公室的財產及資產(不論位於何處及由何人持有)，均免受搜查、徵用、沒收、徵收，或藉行政或立法行動而作出的任何其他形式的檢取、取用或止贖。 (3) 研究辦公室的檔案及屬於研究辦公室或由研究辦公室持有的所有文件，均屬不可侵犯。 (4) 在對研究辦公室執行其職能屬必需的範圍內，其所有財產及資產，均不受任何性質的限制、規管、管制及凍結所限。 (5) 每個成員給予研究辦公室的公務通訊待遇，不得遜於該成員給予任何其他成員的公務通訊待遇。 (6) 研究辦公室的來往公文及其他公務通訊，均免受審查。本條不得解釋為阻止採取某成員與研究辦公室藉協議決定的適當安全防範措施。 (7) 研究辦公室、其資產、財產、收入，以及其運作及交易，均獲豁免而無須繳付一切税項及關税。研究辦公室亦獲豁免而無須負有任何支付、預扣或收取任何税項或關税的義務。儘管有上述規定，仍須有以下理解：凡税項事實上屬不多於公用事業服務費用，則研究辦公室不得要求豁免繳税。 第19條研究辦公室人員的特權及豁免權 副手及其替補者、諮詢委員會成員、主任及研究辦公室職員，以及為研究辦公室執行任務的專家(下稱“研究辦公室人員”)： (a) 就以其公務身分發表的口頭及書面的言論，及以其公務身分作出的作為而言，均享有法律程序的豁免權，而其公務文書及文件，均屬不可侵犯，但如研究辦公室放棄此豁免權，則屬例外； (b) (凡該等人員不屬當地公民或國民)就出入境限制、外籍人士的登記規定及國民服役的義務而言，均享有每個成員給予任何其他成員相若級別的代表及職員相同的豁免權；就外匯限制而言，亦享有每個成員給予任何其他成員相若級別的代表及職員相同的便利； (c) 就交通方面的便利而言，均享有每個成員給予任何其他成員相若級別的代表及職員相同的待遇；及 (d) (凡該等人員不屬當地公民或國民)均獲豁免而無須就研究辦公室向該等人員支付的薪金及報酬繳税。 …… 第21條放棄豁免權 (1) 特權及豁免權是專為研究辦公室的利益而給予研究辦公室人員的，而並非為該等人員的個人利益而給予的。 (2) 執行委員會可在其決定的範圍內及按其決定的條件，放棄任何根據本章就副手及其替補者、諮詢委員會成員及主任而授予的豁免權。 (3) 主任可放棄任何研究辦公室職員及為研究辦公室執行任務的專家的豁免權，但主任本人的豁免權除外。 ……