Chapter VII External Affairs
Article 150
Representatives of the Government of the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region may, as members of delegations of the
Government of the People's Republic of China, participate in
negotiations at the diplomatic level directly affecting the Region
conducted by the Central People's Government.
Article 151
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region may on its own, using
the name "Hong Kong, China", maintain and develop relations and
conclude and implement agreements with foreign states and regions
and relevant international organizations in the appropriate
fields, including the economic, trade, financial and monetary,
shipping, communications, tourism, cultural and sports fields.
Article 152
(1) Representatives of the Government of the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region may, as members of delegations of the
People's Republic of China, participate in international
organizations or conferences in appropriate fields limited to
states and affecting the Region, or may attend in such other
capacity as may be permitted by the Central People's Government
and the international organization or conference concerned, and
may express their views, using the name "Hong Kong, China".
(2) The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region may, using the
name "Hong Kong, China", participate in international
organizations and conferences not limited to states.
(3) The Central People's Government shall take the necessary steps
to ensure that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall
continue to retain its status in an appropriate capacity in those
international organizations of which the People's Republic of
China is a member and in which Hong Kong participates in one
capacity or another.
(4) The Central People's Government shall, where necessary,
facilitate the continued participation of the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region in an appropriate capacity in those
international organizations in which Hong Kong is a participant in
one capacity or another, but of which the People's Republic of
China is not a member.
Article 153
(1) The application to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
of international agreements to which the People's Republic of
China is or becomes a party shall be decided by the Central
People's Government, in accordance with the circumstances and
needs of the Region, and after seeking the views of the government
of the Region.
(2) International agreements to which the People's Republic of
China is not a party but which are implemented in Hong Kong may
continue to be implemented in the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region. The Central People's Government shall, as necessary,
authorize or assist the government of the Region to make
appropriate arrangements for the application to the Region of
other relevant international agreements.
Article 154
(1) The Central People's Government shall authorize the Government
of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to issue, in
accordance with law, passports of the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China to all
Chinese citizens who hold permanent identity cards of the Region,
and travel documents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region of the People's Republic of China to all other persons
lawfully residing in the Region. The above passports and
documents shall be valid for all states and regions and shall
record the holder's right to return to the Region.
(2) The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
may apply immigration controls on entry into, stay in and
departure from the Region by persons from foreign states and
regions.
Article 155
The Central People's Government shall assist or authorize the
Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to
conclude visa abolition agreements with foreign states or regions.
Article 156
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region may, as necessary,
establish official or semi-official economic and trade missions in
foreign countries and shall report the establishment of such
missions to the Central People's Government for the record.
Article 157
(1) The establishment of foreign consular and other official or
semi- official missions in the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region shall require the approval of the Central People's
Government.
(2) Consular and other official missions established in Hong Kong
by states which have formal diplomatic relations with the People's
Republic of China may be maintained.
(3) According to the circumstances of each case, consular and
other official missions established in Hong Kong by states which
have no formal diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of
China may be permitted either to remain or be changed to
semi-official missions. States not recognized by the People's
Republic of China may only establish non-governmental institutions
in the Region.
