CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELNO 2578
OF 25130OZ SEPTEMBER 87
INFO ROUTINE PEKING
кето 382
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BY
RECEIVED A CONFIDENTIAL-50CT 1987
22
121146
MDLOAN 3056
TOP COPY a Diet ?
1.
YOUR TELNO 3587: ICAC INTEREST IN CHINESE LAND COMMISSION MEMBER
THE EXPERTS ON IMMUNITY MATTERS HERE ADVISE US THAT
NORMALLY THE CORRECT PROCEDURE IN SUCH CASES WOULD BE FIRST TO
APPROACH THE HEAD OF MISSION OF THE INDIVIDUAL CONCERNED, WHO WOULD SEEK THE AGREEMENT OF THE SENDING STATE TO A WAIVER. THEY
SAY THAT THIS PROCEDURE APPLIES IF THE INDIVIDUAL CONCERNED IS
NOTIFIED AS A DIPLOMAT TO THE HOST GOVERNMENT AND IRRESPECTIVE
OF WHETHER HE IS REQUIRED AS A WITNESS OR A SUSPECT:
2.
HOWEVER IN THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS CASE WE
ENTIRELY SHARE YOUR INSTINCT THAT THE MATTER SHOULD BE DEALT WITH
IN AN INFORMAL AND LOW-KEY WAY. BUT OUR PREFERENCE WOULD BE FOR
WOOD TO SPEAK TO THE NCNA INFORMALLY AND AT A FAIRLY LOW LEVEL BEFORE APPROACHING CHUNG. WOOD WOULD OF COURSE NEED TO MAKE IT
CLEAR THAT CHUNG WAS NOT A SUSPECT AND THAT HE WAS MAKING THIS INFORMAL APPROACH AS A MATTER OF COURTESY AND IN THE INTERESTS OF
OUR GOOD RELATIONS WITH THE NCNA.
3.
PROVIDED THE INITIAL REACTION OF THE NCNA AND CHUNG WAS
FAVOURAOLE, WOOD'S APPROACH WOULD NEED TO BE FOLLOWED UP BY A FORMAL REQUEST TO THE HEAD OF NCNA TO WAIVE CHUNG'S IMMUNITY ON
BEHALF OF THE CENTRAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT. WE SHOULD OF COURSE
NEED TO THINK AGAIN IF THE NCNA REACTION WAS ANYTHING LESS THAN POSITIVE.
HOW E
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CONFIDENTIAL