Diplomatic Privileges Act 1980

[8 August 1980]

[preamble and words of enactment omitted]

Citation

1 This Act may be cited as the Diplomatic Privileges Act 1980.

Interpretation

2 (1) In this Act unless the context otherwise requires—

"the Convention" means the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, a copy of the English text of which is set out in the First Schedule;

"mission" means any person or group of persons to whom the Convention has been applied by the Governor under section 4 but only in so far as the Convention has been so applied;

"overseas country" means a country other than Bermuda.

(2) In this Act the expressions defined by the Convention shall have the same respective meanings as they have in the Convention.

Governor to act in his discretion

3 In the exercise of power and duties conferred or imposed upon him by this Act the Governor shall act in his discretion and no statutory instrument made by him shall be subject to parliamentary scrutiny.

Application of Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations

4 The Governor may by order declare any person or class of person representing in Bermuda an overseas country or any ministry, official of fice, department or specialized agency of such country other than a per son or class of person to whom the Consular Relations Act 1971 [title 6 item 1] or the International Organizations Etc. (Immunities and Privi leges) Act 1948 [title 6 item 6] apply to be a diplomatic agent or diplo matic agents, as the case may be, for the purposes of the Convention and may in such order apply all or any of the provisions of the Convention to such person or class of person.

Certain provisions of the Convention to have the force of law

5 (1) This Act and the Convention shall operate to the exclusion of any provision of law that deals with a matter dealt with by this Act or the Convention so far as it is made to apply by virtue of an order made by the Governor under section 4.

(2) Subject to this section the provisions of articles 1, 22 to 24 inclusive and 27 to 40 inclusive of the Convention shall have the force of law in respect of any mission.

(3) For the purpose of those articles of the Convention having the force of law by virtue of subsection (2)—

(a) a reference in those provisions to the receiving State shall be read as a reference to Bermuda;

(b) a reference in those provisions to a national of the re ceiving State shall be read as a reference to a person who is deemed to possess Bermudian status;

(c) the reference in paragraph 1 of article 22 to agents of the receiving State shall be read as including a
reference to Bermudian police officers and persons exercising a power of entry to premises under any statutory provision;

(d) a waiver by the head of a mission or by a person for the time being performing the functions of head mission, shall be deemed to be a waiver by that overseas country which the mission represents;

(e) the provisions of articles 35, 36 and 40 shall be treated as granting the privileges or immunities that those arti cles require to be granted;

(f) the reference in paragraph 1 of article 36 to such laws and regulations as the receiving State may adopt shall be read as including a reference to subsection (4) of this section, to section 6 and to any regulations made under this Act for the purposes of that paragraph as having the force of law by virtue of this section;

(g) the reference in paragraph 4 of article 37 and paragraph 2 of article 38 to the extent to which privileges and im munities are admitted by the receiving State shall be read as references to the extent to which privileges and immunities are granted by section 8 of this Act; and

(h) the reference in paragraph 1 of article 39 to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs or such other ministry as may be agreed shall be read as a reference to such Minister as the Governor may designate.

(4) Nothing in subsection (1) affects the application of any pro vision of the law relating to quarantine or prohibiting or restricting the importation into, or the exportation from Bermuda of any animals, plants or goods, but this subsection does not prejudice the immunity from suit or from civil or criminal process that any person may have by virtue of subsection (2).

Exemption from customs duty

6 (1) This section applies in relation to the exemption from cus toms duties and related charges provided for by paragraph 1 of article 36, or paragraph 2 of article 37 of the Convention as having the force of law by virtue of section 5 in respect of articles imported into Bermuda that are for the use of a mission or person referred to in these paragraphs.

(2) The exemption does not apply where any other articles of the same kind, or of a similar kind, that have been imported into Bermuda were, when they were imported, intended for the use of a mis sion or person referred to in subsection (1) and the Minister of Finance by instrument in writing, declares that, in his opinion, the reasonable requirements of the mission or person, have adequately been met by the other articles so imported.

(3) The exemption does not apply unless the person for whose use the articles are intended, or, if the articles are intended for the use of a mission, the head of the mission, agrees that, if the articles are sold or otherwise disposed of in Bermuda within two years after the importation of the articles, he will pay into the Consolidated Fund an amount equal to so much, if any, as the Minister of Finance determines of the customs duties, taxes and related charges that, but for paragraph 1 of article 36 or paragraph 1 or paragraph 2 of article 37 of the Convention, as the case may be, would have been payable in respect of the articles.

Withdrawal of privileges and immunities

7 (1) Where the Governor is satisfied that the privileges and im munities granted in relation to a United Kingdom diplomatic mission in an overseas country, or to persons connected with that mission, are less than the privileges and immunities granted by this Act in relation to the mission of that country, or to persons connected with that mission, he may by instrument in writing withdraw, in relation to that mission or persons connected with that mission all or any of the privileges and im munities granted by this Act.

(2) The Governor shall cause any such instrument to be pub lished in the Gazette.

Certificate by Governor

8 (1) The Governor may give a certificate in writing certifying any fact relevant to the question whether a person is, or was at any time or in respect of any period, entitled to any privileges or immunities by virtue of this Act.

(2) In any proceedings, a certificate given under this section is evidence of the facts certified.

Regulations

9 The Governor may make regulations, not inconsistent with this

receiving State has been given for the person it proposes to accredit as head of the mission to that State.

2 The receiving State is not obliged to give reasons to the sending State for a refusal of agreement.

Article 5

1 The sending State may, after it has given due notification to the receiving States concerned, accredit a head of mission or assign any member of the diplomatic staff, as the case may be, to more than one State, unless there is express objection by any of the receiving States.

2 If the sending State accredits a head of mission to one or more other States it may establish a diplomatic mission headed by a charge d'affaires ad interim in each State where the head of mission has not his permanent seat.

3 A head of mission or any member of the diplomatic staff of the mission may act as representative of the sending State to any interna tional organization.

Article 6

Two or more States may accredit the same person as head of mission to another State, unless objection is offered by the receiving State.

Article 7

Subject to the provisions of Articles 5, 8, 9 and 11, the sending State may freely appoint the members of the staff of the mission. In the case of mil itary, naval or air attaches, the receiving State may require their names to be submitted beforehand, for its approval.

Article 8

1 Members of the diplomatic staff of the mission should in princi ple be of the nationality of the sending State.

2 Members of the diplomatic staff of the mission may not be ap pointed from among persons having the nationality of the receiving State, except with the consent of that State which may be withdrawn at any time.

3 The receiving State may reserve the same right with regard to nationals of a third State who are not also nationals of the sending State.

Article 9

1 The receiving State may at any time and without having to ex plain its decision, notify the sending State that the head of the mission or any member of the diplomatic staff of the mission is persona non grata or that any other member of the staff of the mission is not accept able. In any such case, the sending State shall, as appropriate, either re call the person concerned or terminate his functions with the mission. A person may be declared non grata or not acceptable before arriving in the territory of the receiving State.

2 If the sending State refuses or fails within a reasonable period to carry out its obligations under paragraph 1 of this Article, the receiving State may refuse to recognize the person concerned as a member of the mis sion.

Article 10

1 The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the receiving State, or such other ministry as may be agreed, shall be notified of:

(a) the appointment of members of the mission, their arrival and their final departure or the termination of their functions with the mission;

(b) the arrival and final departure of a person belonging to the family of a member of the mission and, where ap propriate, the fact that a person becomes or ceases to be a member of the family of a member of the mission;

(c) the arrival and final departure of private servants in the employ of persons referred to in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph and, where appropriate, the fact that they are leaving the employ of such persons;

(d) the engagement and discharge of persons resident in the receiving State as members of the mission or private ser vants entitled to privileges and immunities.

2 Where possible, prior notification of arrival and final departure shall also be given.

Article 11

1 In the absence of specific agreement as to the size of the mission, the receiving State may require that the size of a mission be kept within limits considered by it to be reasonable and normal, having regard to cir cumstances and conditions in the receiving State and to the needs of the particular mission.

2 The receiving State may equally, within similar bounds and on a non-discriminatory basis, refuse to accept officials of a particular cate gory.

Article 12

The sending State may not, without the prior express consent of the re ceiving State, establish offices forming part of the mission in localities other than those in which the mission itself is established.

Article 13

1 The head of the mission is considered as having taken up his functions in the receiving State either when he has presented his cre dentials or when he has notified his arrival and a true copy of his cre dentials has been presented to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the re ceiving State, or such other ministry as may be agreed, in accordance with the practice prevailing in the receiving State which shall be applied in a uniform manner.

The order of presentation of credentials or of a true copy thereof will be determined by the date and time of the arrival of the head of the mission.

Article 14

1 Heads of mission are divided into three classes, namely:

(a) that of ambassadors or nuncios accredited to Heads of State, and other heads of mission of equivalent rank;

(b) that of envoys, ministers and internuncios accredited to Heads of State;

2 Except as concerns precedence and etiquette, there shall be no differentiation between heads of mission by reason of their class.

Article 15

The class to which the heads of their missions are to be assigned shall be agreed between States.

Article 16

1 Heads of mission shall take precedence in their respective classes in the order of the date and time of taking up their functions in accordance with Article 13.

2 Alterations in the credentials of a head of mission not involving any change of class shall not affect his precedence.

3 This article is without prejudice to any practice accepted by the receiving State regarding the precedence of the representative of the Holy See.

Article 17

The precedence of the members of the diplomatic staff of the mission shall be notified by the head of the mission to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs or such other ministry as may be agreed.

Article 18

The procedure to be observed in each State for the reception of heads of mission shall be uniform in respect of each class.

Article 19

1 If the post of head of the mission is vacant, or if the head of the mission is unable to perform his functions, a charge d'affaires ad interim shall act provisionally as head of the mission. The name of the charge d'affaires ad interim shall be notified, either by the head of the mission or, in case he is unable to do so, by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the sending State to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the receiving State or such other ministry as may be agreed.

2 In cases where no member of the diplomatic staff of the mission is present in the receiving State, a member of the administrative and technical staff may, with the consent of the receiving State, be desig nated by the sending State to be in charge of the current administrative affairs of the mission.

Article 20

The mission and its head shall have the right to use the flag and emblem of the sending State on the premises of the mission, including the resi dence of the head of the mission, and on his means of transport.

Article 21

1 The receiving State shall either facilitate the acquisition on its territory, in accordance with its laws by the sending State of premises necessary for its mission or assist the latter in obtaining accommodation in some other way.

2 It shall also, where necessary, assist missions in obtaining suit able accommodation for their members.

Article 22

1 The premises of the mission shall be inviolable. The agents of the receiving State may not enter them, except with the consent of the head of the mission.

2 The receiving State is under a special duty to take all appropriate steps to protect the premises of the mission against any intrusion or damage and to prevent any disturbance of the peace of the mission or impairment of its dignity.

3 The premises of the mission, their furnishings and other prop erty thereon and the means of transport of the mission shall be immune from search, requisition, attachment or execution.

Article 23

1 The sending State and the head of the mission shall be exempt from all national, regional or municipal dues and taxes in respect of the premises of the mission, whether owned or leased other than such as represent payment for specific services rendered.

2 The exemption from taxation referred to in this Article shall not apply to such dues and taxes payable under the law of the receiving State by persons contracting with the sending State or the head of the mission.

Article 24

The archives and documents of the mission shall be inviolable at any time and wherever they may be.

Article 25

The receiving State shall accord full facilities for the performance of the functions of the mission.

Article 26

Subject to its laws and regulations concerning zones entry into which is prohibited or regulated for reasons of national security, the receiving State shall ensure to all members of the mission freedom of movement and travel in its territory.

Article 27

1 The receiving State shall permit and protect free communication on the part of the mission for all official purposes. In communicating with the Government and the other missions and consulates of the sending State, wherever situated, the mission may employ all appropri ate means including diplomatic couriers and messages in code or cipher. However, the mission may install and use a wireless transmitter only with the consent of the receiving State.

2 The official correspondence of the mission shall be inviolable. Official correspondence means all correspondence relating to the mission and its functions.

3 The diplomatic bag shall not be opened or detained.

4 The packages constituting the diplomatic bag must bear visible external marks of their character and may contain only diplomatic doc uments or articles intended for official use.

5 The diplomatic courier, who shall be provided with an official document indicating his status and the number of packages constituting the diplomatic bag, shall be protected by the receiving State in the per formance of his functions. He shall enjoy personal inviolability and shall not be liable to any form of arrest or detention.

6 The sending State or the mission may designate diplomatic couriers ad hoc. In such cases the provisions of paragraph 5 of this Arti cle shall also apply, except that the immunities therein mentioned shall cease to apply when such a courier has delivered to the consignee the diplomatic bag in his charge.

7 A diplomatic bag may be entrusted to the captain of a commer cial aircraft scheduled to land at an authorized port of entry. He shall be provided with an official document indicating the number of packages constituting the bag but he shall not be considered to be a diplomatic courier. The mission may send one of its members to take possession of the diplomatic bag directly and freely from the captain of the aircraft.

Article 28

The fees and charges levied by the mission in the course of its official duties shall be exempt from all dues and taxes.

Article 29

The person of a diplomatic agent shall be inviolable. He shall not be li able to any form of arrest or detention. The receiving State shall treat him with due respect and shall take all appropriate steps to prevent any attack on his person, freedom or dignity.

Article 30

1 The private residence of a diplomatic agent shall enjoy the same inviolability and protection as the premises of the mission.

2 His papers, correspondence and, except as provided in para graph 3 of Article 31, his property, shall likewise enjoy inviolability.

Article 31

1 A diplomatic agent shall enjoy immunity from the criminal juris diction of the receiving State. He shall also enjoy immunity from its civil and administrative jurisdiction, except in the case of:

(a) a real action relating to private immovable property situ ated in the territory of the receiving State, unless he holds it on behalf of the sending State for the purposes of the mission;

(b) an action relating to succession in which the diplomatic agent is involved as executor, administrator, heir or legatee as a private person and not on behalf of the sending State;

(c) an action relating to any professional or commercial ac tivity exercised by the diplomatic agent in the receiving State outside his official functions.

2 A diplomatic agent is not obliged to give evidence as a witness.

3 No measures of execution may be taken in respect of a diplo matic agent except in the cases coming under sub-paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of paragraph 1 of this Article, and provided that the measures concerned can be taken without infringing the inviolability of his person or of his residence.

4 The immunity of a diplomatic agent from the jurisdiction of the receiving State does not exempt him from the jurisdiction of the sending State.

Article 32

1 The immunity from jurisdiction of diplomatic agents and of per sons enjoying immunity under Article 37 may be waived by the sending State.

2 Waiver must always be express.

3 The initiation of proceedings by a diplomatic agent or by a per son enjoying immunity from jurisdiction under Article 37 shall preclude him from invoking immunity from jurisdiction in respect of any counter-claim directly connected with the principal claim.

4 Waiver of immunity from jurisdiction in respect of civil or ad ministrative proceedings shall not be held to imply waiver or immunity in respect of the execution of the judgment, for which a separate waiver shall be necessary.

Article 33

1 Subject to the provisions of paragraph 3 of this Article, a diplo matic agent shall with respect to services rendered for the sending State be exempt from social security provisions which may be in force in the receiving State.

2 The exemption provided for in paragraph 1 of this Article shall also apply to private servants who are in the sole employ of a diplomatic agent, on condition:

(a) that they are not nationals of or permanently resident in the receiving State; and

(b) that they are covered by the social security provisions which may be in force in the sending State or a third State.

3 A diplomatic agent who employs persons to whom the exemption provided for in paragraph 2 of this Article does not apply shall observe the obligations which the social security provisions of the receiving State impose upon employers.

4 The exemption provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall not preclude voluntary participation in the social security system of the receiving State provided that such participation is permitted by that State.

5 The provisions of this Article shall not affect bilateral or multilat eral agreements concerning social security concluded previously and shall not prevent the conclusion of such agreement in the future.

Article 34

A diplomatic agent shall be exempt from all dues and taxes, personal or real, national, regional or municipal, except:

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

(b) dues and taxes on private immovable property situated in the territory of the receiving State, unless he holds it on behalf of the sending State for the purposes of the mission;

(c) estate, succession or inheritance duties levied by the re ceiving State, subject to the provisions of paragraph 4 of Article 39;

(d) dues and taxes on private income having its source in the receiving State and capital taxes on investments made in commercial undertakings in the receiving State;

(e) charges levied for specific services rendered;

(f) registration, court or record fees, mortgage dues and stamp duty, with respect to immovable property, subject to the provisions of Article 23.

Article 35

The receiving State shall exempt diplomatic agents from all personal ser vices, from all public service of any kind whatsoever, and from military obligations such as those connected with requisitioning, military contri butions and billeting.

Article 36

1 The receiving State shall, in accordance with such laws and reg ulations as it may adopt, permit entry of and grant exemption from all customs duties, taxes, and related charges other than charges for stor age, cartage and similar services, on:

(a) articles for the official use of the mission;

(b) articles for the personal use of a diplomatic agent or members of his family forming part of his household, in cluding articles intended for his establishment.

2 The personal baggage of a diplomatic agent shall be exempt from inspection, unless there are serious grounds for presuming that it con tains articles not covered by the exemptions mentioned in paragraph 1 of this Article, or articles the import or export of which is prohibited by the law or controlled by the quarantine regulations of the receiving State. Such inspection shall be conducted only in the presence of the diplo matic agent or of his authorized representative.

Article 37

1 The members of the family of a diplomatic agent forming part of his household shall, if they are not nationals of the receiving State, enjoy the privileges and immunities specified in Articles 29 to 36.

2 Members of the administrative and technical staff of the mission, together with members of their families forming part of their respective households, shall, if they are not nationals of or permanently resident in the receiving State, enjoy the privileges and immunities specified in Arti cles 29 to 35, except that the immunity from civil and administrative ju risdiction of the receiving State specified in paragraph 1 of Article 31 shall not extend to acts performed outside the course of their duties. They shall also enjoy the privileges specified in Article 36, paragraph 1 in respect of articles imported at the time of first installation.

3 Members of the service staff of the mission who are not nationals of or permanently resident in the receiving State shall enjoy immunity in respect of acts performed in the course of their duties, exemption from dues and taxes on the emoluments they receive by reason of their em ployment and the exemption contained in Article 33.

4 Private servants of members of the mission shall, if they are not nationals of or permanently resident in the receiving State, be exempt from dues and taxes on the emoluments they receive by reason of their employment. In other respects, they may enjoy privileges and immunities only to the extent admitted by the receiving State. However, the receiving State must exercise its jurisdiction over those persons in such a manner as not to interfere unduly with the performance of the functions of the mission.

Article 38

1 Except in so far as additional privileges and immunities may be granted by the receiving State, a diplomatic agent who is a national of or permanently resident in that State shall enjoy only immunity from juris diction, and inviolability, in respect of official acts performed in the exer cise of his functions.

2 Other members of the staff of the mission and private servants who are nationals of or permanently resident in the receiving State shall enjoy privileges and immunities only to the extent admitted by the re ceiving State. However, the receiving State must exercise its jurisdiction over those persons in such a manner as not to interfere unduly with the performance of the functions of the mission.

Article 39

1 Every person entitled to privileges and immunities shall enjoy them from the moment he enters the territory of the receiving State on proceeding to take up his post or, if already in its territory, from the mo ment when his appointment is notified to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs or such other ministry as may be agreed.

2 When the functions of a person enjoying privileges and immuni ties have come to an end, such privileges and immunities shall normally cease at the moment when he leaves the country, or on expiry of a rea sonable period in which to do so, but shall subsist until that time, even in case of armed conflict. However, with respect to acts performed by such a person in the exercise of his functions as a member of the mis sion, immunity shall continue to subsist.

3 In case of the death of a member of the mission, the members of his family shall continue to enjoy the privileges and immunities to which they are entitled until the expiry of a reasonable period in which to leave the country.

4 In the event of the death of a member of the mission not a na tional of or permanently resident in the receiving State or a member of his family forming part of his household, the receiving State shall permit the withdrawal of the movable property of the deceased, with the excep tion of any property acquired in the country the export of which was prohibited at the time of his death. Estate, succession and inheritance duties shall not be levied on movable property the presence of which in the receiving State was due solely to the presence there of the deceased as a member of the mission or as a member of the family of a member of the mission.

Article 40

1 If a diplomatic agent passes through or is in the territory of a third State, which has granted him a passport visa if such visa was nec essary, while proceeding to take up or to return to his post, or when re turning to his own country, the third State shall accord him inviolability and such other immunities as may be required to ensure his transit or return. The same shall apply in the case of any members of his family enjoying privileges or immunities who are accompanying the diplomatic agent, or travelling separately to join him or to return to their country.

2 In circumstances similar to those specified in paragraph 1 of this Article, third States shall not hinder the passage of members of the ad ministrative and technical or service staff of a mission, and of members of their families, through their territories.

3 Third States shall accord to official correspondence and other of ficial communications in transit, including messages in code or cipher, the same freedom and protection as is accorded by the receiving State. They shall accord to diplomatic couriers, who have been granted a pass port visa if such visa was necessary, and diplomatic bags in transit the same inviolability and protection as the receiving State is bound to ac cord.

4 The obligation of third States under paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this Article shall also apply to the persons mentioned respectively in those paragraphs, and to official communications and diplomatic bags, whose presence in the territory of the third State is due to force majeure.

Article 41

1 Without prejudice to their privileges and immunities, it is the duty of all persons enjoying such privileges and immunities to respect
the laws and regulations of the receiving State. They also have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State.

2 All official business with the receiving State entrusted to the mission by the sending State shall be conducted with or through the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the receiving State or such other ministry as may be agreed.

3 The premises of the mission must not be used in any manner in compatible with the functions of the mission as laid down in the present Convention or by other rules of general international law or by any spe cial agreements in force between the sending and the receiving State.

Article 42

A diplomatic agent shall not in the receiving State practise for personal profit any professional or commercial activity.

Article 43

The function of a diplomatic agent comes to an end, inter alia:

(a) on notification by the sending State to the receiving State that the function of the diplomatic agent has come to an end;

(b) on notification by the receiving State to the sending State that, in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 9, it refuses to recognize the diplomatic agent as a member of the mission.

The receiving State must, even in case of armed conflict, grant facilities in order to enable persons enjoying privileges and immunities, other than nationals of the receiving State, and members of the families of such per sons irrespective of their nationality, to leave at the earliest possible moment. It must, in particular, in case of need, place at their disposal the necessary means of transport for themselves and their property.

Article 45

If diplomatic relations are broken off between two States, or if a mission is permanently or temporarily recalled:

(a) the receiving State must, even in case of armed conflict, respect and protect the premises of the mission, together with its property and archives;

(b) the sending State may entrust the custody of the premises of the mission, together with its property and archives, to a third State acceptable to the receiving State;

(c) the sending State may entrust the protection of its inter ests and those of its nationals to a third State acceptable to the receiving State.

Article 46

A sending State may with the prior consent of a receiving State, and at the request of a third State not represented in the receiving State, un dertake the temporary protection of the interests of the third State and of its nationals.

Article 47

1 In the application of the provisions of the present Convention, the receiving State shall not discriminate as between States.

2 However, discrimination shall not be regarded as taking place:

(a) where the receiving State applies any of the provisions of the present Convention restrictively because of a restric tive application of that provision to its mission in the sending State;

(b) where by custom or agreement States extend to each other more favourable treatment than is required by the provisions of the present Convention.

Article 48

The present Convention shall be open for signature by all States Mem bers of the United Nations or of any of the specialized agencies or Parties to the Statute of the International Court of Justice, and by any other State invited by the General Assembly of the United Nations to become a Party to the Convention, as follows: until 31st October, 1961 at the Fed eral Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Austria and subsequently, until 31st March, 1962, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Article 49

The present Convention is subject to ratification. The instruments of rat ification shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Na tions.

Article 50

The present Convention shall remain open for accession by any State belonging to any of the four categories mentioned in Article 48. The in struments of accession shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Article 51

1 The present Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day following the date of deposit of the twenty-second instrument of ratifica tion or accession with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

2 For each State ratifying or acceding to the Convention after the deposit of the twenty-second instrument of ratification or accession, the Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after deposit by such State of its instrument of ratification of accession.

Article 52

The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall inform all States be longing to any of the four categories mentioned in Article 48:

(a) of signatures to the present Convention and of the de posit of instruments of ratification or accession, in ac cordance with Articles 48, 49 and 50;

(b) of the date on which the present Convention will enter into force, in accordance with Article 51.

Article 53

The original of the present Convention, of which the Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be de posited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall send certified copies thereof to all States belonging to any of the four cate gories mentioned in Article 48.

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Bermuda Consolidated Legislation

Diplomatic Privileges Act 1980