(44
GRS 400
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 4012
Confidential
OF 02024OZ DECEMBER 86
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, WASHINGTON
HKK 334/2 RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
- 2 DEC 1986
YOUR TELNO 2756: UK/USA SUPPLEMENTARY EXTRADITION TREATY
WE HAVE DISCUSSED TUR WITH HUM.
Y
aken
mek
7/12
TOP COPY
a DIST ?
SEEN FROM HERE, IT IS NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR WHY CONSULTATION WITH THE CHINESE MUST TAKE PLACE NOW SINCE THE U.S. HAVE ALREADY AGREED
TO THE SUSPENSION OF THE APPLICATION OF THE TREATY IN RESPECT OF
HONG KONG. WE FULLY APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANCE OF RATIFYING THE TREATY IN DECEMBER, BUT IT SEEMS THAT THE WAY IS ALREADY CLEAR
FOR THIS TO BE DONE WITHOUT INCLUDING HONG KONG IN IT FOR THE TIME BEING.
2. OUR VIEW IS THAT IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKLEY THAT THE CHINESE WOULD CONFINE THEMSELVES TO THE TEXT OF THIS UK/USA SUPPLEMENTARY EXTRADITION TREATY WHEN WE CONSULT THEM. THEY ARE BOUND TO ASK QUESTIONS ON THE MAIN UK/USA EXTRADITION TREATY AND POSSIBLY THE WIDER POLICY ISSUES ON EXTRADITION. AS IN MANY OTHER COMPLICATED ISSUES, THE CHINESE ARE UNLIKELY TO COMMIT THEMSELVES ONE WAY OR THE OTHER BEFORE THEY ARE GIVEN A FULLER PICTURE OF OUR GENERAL INTENTIONS.
3. WE DO NOT THINK THAT THE SUPPLEMENTARY TREATY NEEDS TO BE SUSPENDED FOR TOO LONG IF WE DEFER CONSULTING THE CHINESE UNTIL WE HAVE FORMULATED OUR POLICY AND STRATEGY ON FUTURE EXTRADITION ARRANGEMENTS. OUR PRESENT PLAN IS TO CONSULT EXCO LATER THIS MONTH ON THE PROPOSED POLICY. SUBJECT TO EXCO'S AND YOUR VIEWS, DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE COULD BEGIN IN JANUARY 1987. THERE IS NO REASON WHY CONSULTATION WITH THE CHINESE ON THE EXTENSION OF THE SUPPLEMENTARY TREATY, TOGETHER WITH OTHER EXTRADITION AGREEMENTS, SHOULD NOT TAKE PLACE IN PARALLEL TO THE DISCUSSIONS ON THE GENERAL POLICY.
4. IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE, IT IS MORE SATISFACTORY FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW TO DEFER THE CONSULTATION WITH THE CHINESE ON THE SUPPLEMENTARY TREATY AS WE HAVE PROPOSED. COULD YOU PLEASE RECONSIDER THIS?
AKERS-JONES
HMLNAN 5511
1
LIMITED
HRD
NAD
LEGAL ADVISERS
FED
RID
MR GOODALL
NEWS D
INFO D
NTD
COPIES TO
MRS S MARCH, SIL, NIO
MR WRIGHT, CS DIV,
Confidential
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