第五条 领馆馆舍和馆长寓所免纳捐税，但为其提供特定服务所收的费用不在此限。

领馆办理公务所收规费和手续费免纳捐税。

第六条 领馆的档案和文件不受侵犯。

第七条 领馆成员在中国境内有行动和旅行的自由，但中国政府规定禁止或者限制进入的区域除外。

第八条 领馆为公务目的可以同派遣国政府以及派遣国使馆和其他领馆自由通讯。通讯可以采用一切适当方法，包括外交信使或者领事信使、外交邮袋或者领事邮袋和明码、密码电信在内。

第九条 领馆设置和使用无线电收发信机，必须经中国政府同意。领馆运进上述设备，按照中国政府的有关规定办理。

第十条 领事邮袋不得开拆或者扣留。

领事邮袋以装载来往公文、公务文件及公务用品为限，应予加封并附有可资识别的外部标记。如中国有关机关有重大理由认为领事邮袋装有上述物品以外的物品时，可要求领事官员或者其授权的人员在中国有关机关人员在场的情况下开拆；如领事官员拒绝此项要求，领事邮袋应予退回至原发送地点。

第十一条 领事信使必须是具有派遣国国籍的人，并且不得是在中国永久居留的。领事信使必须持有派遣国主管机关出具的信使证明书。领事信使人身不受侵犯，不受逮捕或者拘留。

临时领事信使必须持有派遣国主管机关出具的临时信使证明书，在其负责携带领事邮袋期间享有与领事信使同等的豁免。

商业飞机机长或者商业船舶船长受委托可以转递领事邮袋，但机长或者船长必须持有委托国官方证明文件，注明所携带的领事邮袋件数。机长或者船长不得视为领事信使。经与中国地方人民政府主管机关商定，领馆可以派领馆成员与机长或者船长接交领事邮袋。

第十二条 领事官员人身不受侵犯。中国有关机关应当采取适当措施，防止领事官员的人身自由和尊严受到侵犯。

领事官员不受逮捕或者拘留，但有严重犯罪情形，依照法定程序予以逮捕或者拘留的不在此限。

领事官员不受监禁，但为执行已经发生法律效力的判决的不在此限。

第十三条 领事官员的寓所不受侵犯。

领事官员的文书和信件不受侵犯。

领事官员的财产不受侵犯，但本条例第十四条另有规定的除外。

第十四条 领事官员和领馆行政技术人员执行职务的行为享有司法和行政管辖豁免。领事官员执行职务以外的行为的管辖豁免，按照中国与外国签订的双边条约、协定或者根据对等原则办理。

领事官员和领馆行政技术人员享有的司法管辖豁免不适用于下列各项民事诉讼：

（一）涉及未明示以派遣国代表身份所订的契约的诉讼；

（二）涉及在中国境内的私有不动产的诉讼，但以派遣国代表身份所拥有的为领馆使用的不动产不在此限；

（三）以私人身份进行的遗产继承的诉讼；

（四）因车辆、船舶或者航空器在中国境内造成的事故涉及损害赔偿的诉讼。

第十五条 领馆成员可以被要求在司法或者行政程序中到场作证，但没有义务就其执行职务所涉及事项作证。领馆成员有权拒绝以鉴定人身份就派遣国的法律提出证词。

领事官员拒绝作证，不得对其采取强制措施或者给予处罚。

领馆行政技术人员和领馆服务人员除执行职务所涉及事项外，不得拒绝作证。

第十六条 本条例规定的有关人员所享有的管辖豁免可以由派遣国政府明确表示放弃。

依照本条例规定享有管辖豁免的人员如果主动提起诉讼，对与本诉直接有关的反诉，不得援用管辖豁免。

放弃民事管辖豁免或者行政管辖豁免，不包括对判决的执行也放弃豁免。放弃对判决执行的豁免须由派遣国政府另作明确表示。

第十七条 领事官员和领馆行政技术人员免纳捐税，但下列各项除外：

（一）通常计入商品价格或者服务价格内的捐税；

（二）对在中国境内私有不动产所征的捐税，但用作领馆馆舍的不在此限；

（三）有关遗产的各种捐税，但领事官员亡故，其在中国境内的动产的有关遗产的各种捐税免纳；

（四）对来源于中国境内的私人收入所征的捐税；

（五）为其提供特定服务所收的费用。

领馆服务人员在领馆服务所得工资，免纳捐税。

第十八条 领馆成员免除一切个人和公共劳务以及军事义务。

领事官员和领馆行政技术人员免除中国法律、法规关于外国人登记和居留许可所规定的义务。

第十九条 领馆运进的公务用品，领事官员运进的自用物品和领馆行政技术人员到任后半年内运进的自用物品包括安家物品，按照中国政府的有关规定免纳关税和其他捐税，但保管、运输及类似服务费用除外。

领事官员和领馆行政技术人员运进的前款所述自用物品，不得超过直接需要的数量。

领事官员的私人行李免受查验，但中国有关机关有重大理由认为其中装有不属于本条第一款规定的自用物品或者中国法律和政府规定禁止运进、运出或者管制的物品，可以查验。查验时，须有领事官员或者其授权的人员到场。

第二十条 领馆和领馆成员携带自用的枪支、子弹入出境，必须经中国政府批准，并且按照中国政府的有关规定办理。

第二十一条 与领事官员、领馆行政技术人员、领馆服务人员共同生活的配偶及未成年子女，分别享有领事官员、领馆行政技术人员、领馆服务人员根据本条例第七条、第十七条、第十八条、第十九条的规定所享有的特权与豁免，但身为中国公民或者在中国永久居留的外国人除外。

第二十二条 领事官员如果是中国公民或者在中国永久居留的外国人，仅就其执行职务的行为，享有本条例规定的特权与豁免。

领馆行政技术人员或者领馆服务人员如果是中国公民或者在中国永久居留的外国人，除没有义务就其执行职务所涉及事项作证外，不享有本条例规定的特权与豁免。

私人服务人员不享有本条例规定的特权与豁免。

第二十三条 下列人员在中国过境或者逗留期间享有所必需的豁免和不受侵犯：

（一）途经中国的外国驻第三国的领事官员和与其共同生活的配偶及未成年子女；

（二）持有中国外交签证或者持有与中国互免签证国家外交护照的外国领事官员。

第二十四条 享有领事特权与豁免的人员：

（一）应当尊重中国的法律、法规；

（二）不得干涉中国的内政；

（三）不得将领馆馆舍和领馆成员的寓所充作与执行领事职务不相符合的用途。

第二十五条 领事官员不得在中国境内为私人利益从事任何职务范围以外的职业或者商业活动。

第二十六条 如果外国给予中国驻该国领馆、领馆成员以及途经或者临时去该国的中国驻第三国领事官员的领事特权与豁免，不同于中国给予该国驻中国领馆、领馆成员以及途经或者临时来中国的该国驻第三国领事官员的领事特权与豁免，中国政府根据对等原则，可以给予该国驻中国领馆、领馆成员以及途经或者临时来中国的该国驻第三国领事官员以相应的领事特权与豁免。

第二十七条 中国缔结或者参加的国际条约对领事特权与豁免另有规定的，按照国际条约的规定办理，但中国声明保留的条款除外。

中国与外国签订的双边条约或者协定对领事特权与豁免另有规定的，按照条约或者协定的规定执行。

第二十八条 本条例中下列用语的含义是：

（一）“领馆”是指总领事馆、领事馆、副领事馆或者领事代理处；

（二）“领区”是指为领馆执行领事职务而设定的区域；

（三）“领馆馆长”是指派遣国委派领导领馆的总领事、领事、副领事或者领事代理人；

（四）“领事官员”是指总领事、副总领事、领事、副领事、领事随员或者领事代理人；

（五）“领馆行政技术人员”是指从事领馆行政或者技术工作的人员；

（六）“领馆服务人员”是指从事领馆服务工作的人员；

（七）“领馆成员”是指领事官员、领馆行政技术人员和领馆服务人员；

（八）“私人服务人员”是指领馆成员私人雇用的服务人员；

（九）“领馆馆舍”是指专供领馆使用的建筑物或者部分建筑物及其附属的土地。

第二十九条 本条例自公布之日起施行。

REGULATIONS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA CONCERNING CONSULAR PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES

(Adopted at the 16th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Seventh National People's Congress on October 30, 1990, promulgated by Order No. 35 of the President of the People's Republic of China on October 30, 1990 and effective as of the date of promulgation)

Article 1

The present Regulations are formulated for the purpose of defining the consular privileges and immunities of the foreign consular posts in China and their members and facilitating the efficient performance of the functions of such foreign consular posts in their consular districts as representatives of the sending States.

Article 2

Consular officers shall be of the nationality of the sending State. They may, only with the consent of the competent Chinese authorities, be appointed from among persons of Chinese or third-state nationality or nationals of the sending State who are permanent residents of China. This consent may be withdrawn at any time by the said Chinese authorities.

Article 3

The consular post and its head shall have the right to use the national flag and emblem of the sending State on the premises of the consular post, on the residence of the head of the consular post and on his means of transport when used on official business.

Article 4

The premises of the consular post shall be inviolable. Chinese government functionaries may enter them only with the consent of the head of the consular post or the head of the diplomatic mission of the sending State or another person authorized by either of them. The consent of the head of the consular post may be assumed in case of fire or other disaster requiring prompt protective action. The Chinese authorities concerned shall take appropriate measures to protect the premises of the consular post against any intrusion or damage.

Article 5

The premises of the consular post and the residence of its head shall be exempt from dues and taxes other than such as represent payment for specific services rendered. The fees and charges levied by the consular post in the course of its official duties shall be exempt from all dues and taxes.

Article 6

The archives and documents of the consular post shall be inviolable.

Article 7

The members of the consular post shall enjoy freedom of movement and travel within Chinese territory except for areas the entry into which is prohibited or restricted by the regulations of the Chinese Government.

Article 8

The consular post may for official purposes communicate freely with the Government and the diplomatic mission and other consular posts of the sending State. In so doing, it may employ all appropriate means, including diplomatic couriers or consular couriers, diplomatic bag or consular bag, and messages in code or cipher.

Article 9

The consular post may install and use a wireless transmitter-receiver only with the consent of the Chinese Government. The import of the above- mentioned equipment shall be subject to the relevant procedure prescribed by the Chinese Government.

Article 10

The consular bag shall not be opened or detained.

The consular bag may contain only official correspondence and documents or articles intended for official use and must be sealed and bear visible external marks of its character. If the Chinese authorities concerned have serious reason to believe that the bag contains something other than the above-mentioned objects, they may request that the bag be opened in the presence of personnel from the Chinese authorities concerned by the consular officer or another person authorized by him. If this request is refused by the consular officer, the bag shall be returned to its place of origin.

Article 11

The consular courier must be of the nationality of the sending State and shall not be a permanent resident of China. The consular courier must be provided with a courier certificate issued by the competent authorities of the sending State. He shall enjoy personal inviolability and shall not be liable to arrest or detention. Consular couriers ad hoc must be provided with certificates of courier ad hoc issued by the competent authorities of the sending State, and shall enjoy the same immunities as the consular courier while charged with the carrying of the consular bag. A consular bag may be entrusted to the captain of a commercial aircraft or a commercial ship. He must be provided with an official document issued by the consigner State indicating the number of packages constituting the bag, but he shall not be regarded as a consular courier. By arrangement with the competent authorities of the appropriate Chinese local people's government, the consular post may send its members to receive the consular bag from the captain of the aircraft or of the ship or deliver it to him.

Article 12

The person of a consular officer shall be inviolable. The Chinese authorities concerned shall take appropriate measures to prevent any attack on his personal freedom and dignity. Consular officers shall not be liable to arrest or detention, except that the arrest or detention is executed in the case of a grave crime and by following legal procedures.

Consular officers shall not be committed to prison save in execution of a judicial decision of final effect.

Article 13

The residence of a consular officer shall be inviolable.

His papers and correspondence shall be inviolable.

His property, except as provided in Article 14 of the present Regulations, shall be inviolable.

Article 14

Consular officers and members of the administrative and technical staff of the consular post shall enjoy immunity from judicial and administrative jurisdiction in respect of acts performed in the exercise of their functions. Immunity from jurisdiction of consular officers in respect of acts other than those performed in the exercise of their functions shall be accorded in accordance with the bilateral treaties and agreements between China and other countries concerned or on the principle of reciprocity. Immunity from judicial jurisdiction enjoyed by consular officers and members of the administrative or technical staff of the consular post shall not apply to any of the following civil actions:

(1) an action arising out of a contract not concluded expressly as an agent of the sending State;

(2) an action relating to private immovable property situated in the territory of China, unless they hold it as an agent of the sending State for the purposes of the consular post.

(3) an action relating to succession in which he is involved as a private person; or

(4) an action for damages arising from an accident in China caused by a vehicle, vessel or aircraft.

Article 15

Members of a consular post may be called upon to attend as witnesses in the course of judicial or administrative proceedings, but shall be under no obligation to give testimony concerning matters connected with the exercise of their functions. They are entitled to decline to give testimony as expert witnesses with regard to the law of the sending State.

If consular officers should decline to give testimony, no coercive measure or penalty may be applied to them.

Members of the administrative or technical staff of the consular post and members of the service staff shall not decline to give testimony except in cases concerning matters connected with the exercise of their functions.

Article 16

The immunity from jurisdiction enjoyed by the persons concerned specified in the present Regulations may be waived through explicit expression by the Government of the sending State.

The initiation of proceedings by a person enjoying immunity from jurisdiction in accordance with the provisions of the present Regulations shall preclude him from invoking immunity from jurisdiction in respect of any counter-claim directly connected with the claim.

Waiver of immunity from civil or administrative jurisdiction shall not imply waiver of immunity in respect of the execution of the judgment, for which a separate and explicit waiver by the Government of the sending State shall be necessary.

Article 17

Consular officers and members of the administrative or technical staff of the consular post shall be exempt from all dues and taxes, except:

(1) dues and taxes of a kind which are normally incorporated in the price of goods or services;

(2) dues or taxes on private immovable property situated in the territory of China, excepting that used as the consular premises;

(3) estate, succession or inheritance duties, except that movable property left in China by a deceased consular officer shall be exempt therefrom;

(4) dues and taxes on private income having its source in China; or

(5) charges levied for specific services rendered.

Members of the service staff of the consular post shall be exempt from dues and taxes on the wages which they receive for their service in the consular post.

Article 18

Members of the consular post shall be exempt from all personal and public services as well as military obligations.

Consular officers and members of the administrative or technical staff of the consular post shall be exempt from all obligations under the laws and regulations of China in regard to the registration of aliens and residence permits.

Article 19

Imported articles for the official use of the consular post, those for the personal use of consular officers, and those for the personal use of members of the administrative or technical staff of the consular post, including articles intended for their establishment, imported within six months of the time of installation shall, in accordance with the relevant regulations of the Chinese Government, be exempt from customs duties and all other related dues and taxes with the exception of charges for storage, cartage and similar services.

Imported articles for the personal use of the consular officers and the members of the administrative or technical staff of the consular post referred to in the preceding paragraph shall not exceed the quantities necessary for their direct utilization. The personal baggage of a consular officer shall be exempt from inspection, unless the competent Chinese authorities have serious reason to believe that it contains articles not within the exemptions provided for in the first paragraph of this Article, or articles the import or export of which is prohibited or controlled by Chinese laws and government regulations. Such inspection shall be conducted in the presence of the consular officer or of his authorized representative.

Article 20

The consular post and its members may carry firearms and bullets into or out of China for their personal use, subject to the approval of the Chinese government and to its relevant regulations.

Article 21

The spouse and underage children of consular officers, of members of the administrative or technical staff of the consular post, or of members of the service staff of the consular post forming part of their respective households, except those who are nationals of China or aliens permanently residing in China, shall respectively enjoy the privileges and immunities accorded to the consular officers, the members of the administrative or technical staff of the consular post or the members of the service staff of the consular post in accordance with the provisions of Articles 7, 17, 18 or 19 of the present Regulations.

Article 22

Consular officers who are nationals of China or aliens permanently residing in China shall enjoy the privileges and immunities provided for in the present Regulations only in respect of acts performed in the course of official duties.

Members of the administrative or technical staff of the consular post and members of the service staff of the consular post who are nationals of China or aliens permanently residing in China shall not enjoy the privileges and immunities provided for in the present Regulations except that they shall have no obligation to give evidence concerning matters connected with the exercise of their functions. Private attendants shall not enjoy the privileges and immunities provided for in the present Regulations.

Article 23

The following persons shall enjoy necessary immunity and inviolability during their transit through or sojourn in China:

(1) a consular officer stationed in a third State who passes through China together with his spouse and underage children forming part of his household; and

(2) a visiting foreign consular officer who has obtained a diplomatic visa from China or who holds a diplomatic passport of a State with which China has an agreement on the mutual exemption of visas.

Article 24

Persons enjoying consular privileges and immunities under the present Regulations shall:

(1) respect Chinese laws and regulations;

(2) not interfere in the internal affairs of China; and

(3) not use the premises of the consular post and the residence of members of the consular post for purposes incompatible with the exercise of consular functions.

Article 25

Consular officers shall not practise for personal profit any professional or commercial activity outside his official functions on Chinese territory.

Article 26

In case the consular privileges and immunities accorded by a foreign State to the Chinese consular post and its members in that State and to transitting or visiting Chinese consular officers stationed in a third State are different from those China would give under the present Regulations to the consular post of that State and its members in China and its transitting or visiting consular officers stationed in a third State, the Chinese Government may accord them such consular privileges and immunities as appropriate on a reciprocal basis.

Article 27

Where the international treaties to which China is a contracting or acceding party provide otherwise in respect of consular privileges and immunities, such provisions shall prevail, with the exception of those on which China has declared reservations. Where the bilateral treaties or agreements between China and other countries provide otherwise in respect of consular privileges and immunities, such provisions shall prevail.

Article 28

For the purposes of the present Regulations, the following expressions shall have the meanings hereunder assigned to them:

Article 29

The present Regulations shall enter into force as of the date of promulgation.