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in hand.
arrangements as we make now with China shall not apply to legal transactions of a judicial nature between the United Kingdom and Hong Kong, China.
4.
During last year, Mr Henry Steel prepared at my request a number of papers dealing with various legal arrangements between ourselves and Hong Kong post 1997. Such arrangements will need the agreement or at least the acquiescence of China. He and I had thought that it was, perhaps, premature to consider start taking action on these papers for a few years yet. However I think we may need to reconsider that earlier assessment in the light both of current proposals for mutual legal assistance with China and of the question of extradition which has been emphasised by the correspondence between Lord Winchilsea and Ministers in this Office and the Home Office. I am copying this minute to Mr Wood (HKD) with the request that he consider the desirability of raising this second aspect with the Government of Hong Kong and taking their view whether, in any discussion with the Chinese which the United Kingdom may have, we should put down a separate UK/HKSAR marker.
23 March 1988
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Paul Fifoot
Deputy Legal Adviser