RESTRICTED
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 1853
OF 12150OZ JULY 88
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
RESTRICTED
HKD 371/1
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046067 MDHOAN 0236
OUR TELNO 647 TO PEKING AND TELECON WOOD/BRADLEY: UK/CHINA
JUDICIAL ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT
1.
THE TEXT OF THE DRAFT SPEAKING NOTE REFERRED TO PARA 1 OF TUR
WAS CONTAINED IN THE FINAL PARA OF A LETTER OF 12 APRIL FROM
CARPENTER (LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPT) TO MRS SMITH
SMITH (FED), COPIED BY
HKD TO BUNTEN. FOR EASE OF REFERENCE, HERE IS THE TEXT AGAIN:
BEGINS
THE UK WOULD BE INTERESTED IN CONCLUDING A BILATERAL
AGREEMENT
WITH THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA TO COVER SIMILAR AREAS TO
THOSE IN THE AGREEMENTS WITH FRANCE AND BELGIUM. THE BILATERAL
AGREEMENT COULD USEFULLY COVER THE FOLLOWING CIVIL AND COMMERCIAL
MATTERS:-
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
(F)
SERVICE OF JUDICIAL AND EXTRA-JUDICIAL DOCUMENTS
TAKING OF EVIDENCE ABROAD
RECOGNITION AND ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGEMENTS
RECOGNITION AND ENFORCEMENT OF ARBITRAL AWARDS
ABOLITION OF LEGALISATION
EXCHANGE OF LEGAL INFORMATION.
BEFORE PROCEEDING TO DRAFT A TEXT, THE UK WOULD WELCOME A
DISCUSSION ON WHETHER AND TO WHAT EXTENT AN AGREEMENT IS FEASIBLE
ON THESE MATTERS. FOR THIS PURPOSE, THE UK IS READY TO PRODUCE A MEMORANDUM ON EACH OF THESE SUBJECTS, OUTLINING THE TYPE OF CO-OPERATION WHICH MIGHT BE ENVISAGED AND HOW THIS IS IN PRACTICE
ENSURED WITHIN THE UK LEGAL SYSTEM. IT MAY BE THAT, HAVING SEEN THE UK MEMORANDUM, CHINA WOULD ITSELF CONSIDER SENDING A SIMILAR MEMORANDUM.
ENDS
HOWE
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