Statutory Instruments

2005 No. 246

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNITIES AND PRIVILEGES

The Commonwealth Countries and Ireland (Immunities and Privileges) (Amendment) Order 2005

Made

9th February 2005

Laid before Parliament

21st February 2005

Coming into force

1st April 2005

At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 9th day of February 2005

Present,

The Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty in Council

Her Majesty, in exercise of the powers conferred on Her by section 12(1) of the Consular Relations Act 1968(1), is pleased, by and with the advice of Her Privy Council, to order, and it is hereby ordered, as follows:

1. This Order may be cited as the Commonwealth Countries and Ireland (Immunities and Privileges) (Amendment) Order 2005 and shall come into force on 1st April 2005.

2. Article 9 of the Commonwealth Countries and Republic of Ireland (Immunities and Privileges) Order 1985(2) is revoked and replaced by the following Article—

“9. The like relief from general rates as is accorded under Article 32 in Schedule 1 to the Act to consular premises and to the residence of the career head of a consular post shall be extended to the office and the residence respectively of the Falkland Islands Government Representative in London, of the Cayman Islands Government Representative in London, of the Gibraltar Government Representative in London and of the British Virgin Islands Government Representative in London.”.

A K Galloway

Clerk of the Privy Council

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order, pursuant to section 12 of the Consular Relations Act 1968, affords partial relief from general rates to the offices and residences of the Gibraltar Government Representative in London and the British Virgin Islands Government Representative in London. Similar relief is already granted to the offices and residences of the Falkland Islands Government Representative in London and the Cayman Islands Government Representative in London. These offices perform functions broadly in line with those of a consular post of a foreign country.

The Order also deletes references to Hong Kong, which is no longer part of the Commonwealth. Privileges and immunities have been afforded to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office under the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Act 1996.

(1)

1968 c. 18. Section 12 was amended by section 4 of the Diplomatic and other Privileges Act 1971 (c. 64).

(2)

S.I. 1985/1983.