The Universal Postal Union
[9 September 1955]
(Format changes—E.R. 4 of 2021)
(Words repealed 81 of 1999 s. 3)
The Universal Postal Union (hereinafter referred to as the Organization) is an organization to which the Diplomatic Privileges Ordinance (Cap. 190) applies.
The Organization shall have the legal capacities of a body corporate and, except in so far as in any particular case it has expressly waived its immunity, immunity from suit and legal process. No waiver of immunity shall be deemed to extend to any measure of execution.
The Organization shall have the like inviolability of official archives and premises occupied as offices as is accorded in respect of official archives and premises of an envoy of a foreign sovereign power accredited to the Government of the People’s Republic of China.
The Organization shall have the like exemption or relief from taxes and rates, other than taxes on the importation of goods, as is accorded to a foreign sovereign power.
The Organization shall have exemption from taxes on the importation of goods directly imported by the Organization for its official use in Hong Kong or for exportation, or on the importation of any publications of the Organization directly imported by it, such exemption to be subject to compliance with such conditions as the Commissioner of Customs and Excise may prescribe for the protection of the revenue. (40 of 1985 s. 10)
The Organization shall have exemption from prohibitions and restrictions on importation or exportation in the case of goods directly imported or exported by the Organization for its official use and in the case of any publications of the Organization directly imported or exported by it.
The Organization shall have the right to avail itself, for telegraphic communications sent by it and containing only matter intended for publication by the press or for broadcasting (including communications addressed to or dispatched from places outside Hong Kong), of any reduced rates applicable for the corresponding service in the case of press telegrams.
Except in so far as in any particular case any privilege or immunity is waived by the Governments whom they represent, representatives of members at Congresses, on the Executive and Liaison Committee, at administrative conferences or on commissions provided for in the constitution of the Organization, or on any committee of any of these bodies shall enjoy— (G.N.A. 99 of 1955)
while exercising their functions as such and during their journeys to and from the place of meeting, immunity from personal arrest or detention and from seizure of their personal baggage and inviolability for all papers and documents;
immunity from legal process of every kind in respect of words spoken or written and things done or omitted to be done by them in their capacity as representatives.
Where the incidence of any form of taxation depends upon residence, representatives shall not be deemed to be resident in Hong Kong during any period when they are present in Hong Kong for the discharge of their duties.
The provisions of the preceding paragraphs of this Article shall not confer any immunity or privilege on any person as the representatives of the Central People’s Government in Hong Kong or as a member of the staff of such representative or on any person who is a Chinese national. (80 of 1982 s. 3; 81 of 1999 s. 3)
Except in so far as in any particular case any privilege or immunity is waived by the Organization, any officer of the Organization holding the office of Secretary-General (including any officer acting for him during his absence from duty) shall be accorded in respect of himself, his spouse and his children under the age of twenty-one, the like immunity from suit and legal process, the like inviolability of residence and the like exemption or relief from taxes, other than income tax, as is accorded to an envoy of a foreign sovereign power accredited to the Government of the People’s Republic of China, his spouse and children, and exemption from income tax in respect of emoluments received by him as an officer of the Organization.
Except in so far as in any particular case any privilege or immunity is waived by the Organization, officials of the Organization of any category specified by it shall enjoy—
immunity from suit and legal process in respect of words spoken or written and things done or omitted to be done by them in the course of the performance of their official duties; (L.N. 162 of 1993)
exemption from income tax in respect of emoluments received by them as officers or servants of the Organization.