The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Establishment Law (Law No.283 of 1951) shall be partially amended of follows: In Contents, "Section 3 Local Branch Offices (Articles 17-19)" shall be amended as "Section 3 Deleted" and" Chapter IV Diplomatic and Consular Establishments Abroad (Articles 22-25) Chapter V Personnel (Articles 26･27) "shall be amended as "Chapter IV Diplomatic and Consular Establishments Abroad (Articles 22-28) Chapter V Personnel (Articles 29･30) ". Article 3 item (9) shall be deleted and item (10) of the same Article shall be made item (9) of the same Article. Article 12 shall be amended as follows:

(Function of International Cooperation Bureau) Article 12. The International Cooperation Bureau shall take charge of the following affairs: (1) Participation in international organizations and conferences; (2) Execution of treaties and other international agreements; (3) International administration.

Section 3 shall be amended as follows:

Section 3 Deleted

Articles 17 to 19 inclusive. Deleted.

Article 26 shall be made Article 29, and Article 27 shall be made Article 30, and, in Chapter IV, the following three Articles shall be added next to Article 25:

(Consulates and Consular Officer) Article 26. Unless otherwise provided for by laws or cabinet orders, the term "consulate" as used in the provisions of this Law and other laws and orders pertaining to the duties of the consular officer shall mean consulates-general, consulates, branch offices of consulates-general, or branch offices of consulates. 2 Unless otherwise provided for by laws or cabinet orders, the term "consul" or "consular officer" as used in the provisions of this Law and other laws and orders pertaining to the duties of the consular officer shall mean the head of the consulate or a person acting for him. 3 In case consulates are not established at the sites of embassies or legations or in case a special necessity arises, the Minister for Foreign Affairs may have the head of the embassy or legation or a person acting for him perform the duties of the consular officer.

(Fee to be Collected by Consular Officer) Article 27. The cases and the amounts of fees to be collected in connection with the disposition of responsibilities by the consular officer (including the head of the embassy or legation performing the duties of the consular officer or a person acting for him;hereinafter the same) shall be determined by Cabinet Order.

(Exemption and Reduction of Fee) Article 28. Consular officers may, with the approval of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, reduce the amount of fee or exempt the payment thereof by giving special consideration to the prevailing conditions at the sites of the diplomatic and consular establishments concerned, or if deemed necessary in cases where special circumstances exist with respect to persons who pay the fee.