CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 555
OF 180435Z FEBRUARY 89
CONFIDENTIAL
мко 384/13
R+P.A. (EXTRADITION)
NC 20/2
127365
MDLIAN 8210
INTERPOL: PROPOSAL ON EXTRADITION AT 10TH ASIAN REGIONAL CONFERENCE
AT THE WORKING GROUP MEETING FOR INTERPOL REGIONALISATION IN ASIA, THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES MADE THE FOLLOWING PROPOSAL FOR DISCUSSION AT THE 10TH ASIAN REGIONAL CONFERENCE: QUOTE IN THE ABSENCE OF EXTRADITION TREATIES AN UNDERSTANDING DRAFT MEMO MAY BE REACHED BETWEEN THE HEADS OF THE ASIAN NCB'S AS AN ETHICAL OBLIGATION AND AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO SUCH TREATIES BY THIS. THE NCB HEADS SHOULD IMPULE (SIC) THEIR COMPETENT AUTHORITIES TO DO THEIR BEST IN TRACING CRIMINALS, ARRENSTING, INVESTIGATION AND PRESENTING THEM FOR TRIAL AND EVEN EXCETUING SENTENCES AT THEIR ENDS. UNQUOTE.
2.
WE SEE CONSIDERABLE PROBLEMS IN THIS PROPOSAL. ANY SUGGESTION THAT THE SYSTEM OF EXTRADITION TREATIES COULD BE BY-PASSED WOULD UNDERMINE OUR ARGUMENTS WITH THE CHINESE THAT TREATIES ARE NECESSARY AND THAT LOOSER ARRANGEMENTS WILL NOT DO. IT WOULD BE UNHELPFUL IN GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE CHINESE INTERPOL BUREAU TO PRESS FOR DE FACTO EXTRADITION OF PEOPLE FROM HONG KONG.
3. OUR REPRESENTATIVES AT THE REGIONAL CONFERENCE WILL BE ARGUING VERY STRONGLY AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL. THEIR ARGUMENTS WILL CONCEN- TRATE ON THE DISADVANTAGES OF UNDERMINING THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM OF EXTRADITION SINCE EXTRADITION TREATIES PROVIDE SAFEGUARDS WHICH ARE HELPFUL TO ALL PARTIES.
4.
YOU MAY WISH TO TAKE NOTE OF THIS DEVELOPMENT IN CASE SIMILAR PROPOSALS COME UP AT REGIONAL CONFERENCES AT WHICH UK IS REPRESENTED. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN GIVE IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES IN COMBATTING THESE IDEAS.
WILSON
YYYY
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CONFIDENTIAL