Mr Stoab

pa.

So did I. I would have

thought that if ous Legal Adviser

had had doubts aberet the advice пад

адись given by another, he should have said so at the tinie

Mr Stone

Hong Kong Dept

Darwal19

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From:

Date:

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на набителя

I thought

90

our advice

was tract all was

order?

in

Deputy Legal Adviser

8 March 1990

Mr Everard, SAMD

Mrs Link, Protocol Dept Ms Foakes, Assistant

Legal Adviser

ARREST OF VENEZUELAN CONSUL OFFICIAL IN HONG KONG

1.

At a party last night I ran into Michael Beloff QC. He said that, to his surprise, he had found himself advising urgently earlier in the day on a question of Consular immunity. It transpired that he was talking about the Venezuelan affair in Hong Kong.

2. I imagine that the ICAC would not be seeking advice from the English Bar. I can only assume therefore that Mr Beloff was being consulted by the Venezuelans. He did not of course volunteer the nature of his advice, nor would it have been proper for me to enquire. But I fear that the rather shaky legal basis (so far as Consular immunities are concerned) on which the Hong Kong Authorities acted may be coming home to roost.

Ms Diana

Brookes

Protocol Legal.

HKB 400 /1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

15 MAR 1990

DESK OFFICER

FD Berman

K 189

INDEX

BA

813

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