CONFIDENTIAL
032
MDHIAN 9898
PERFORMING HIS CONSULAR DUTIES: AND THERE ARE DOUBTS THAT A
'GRAVE CRIME' (ARTICLE 41 OF THE CONVENTION) HAS BEEN COMMITTED. THESE DOUBTS HAVE BEEN GIVEN COLOUR BY THE ABSENCE OF FORMAL CHARGES, AND THE REPORTED UNWILLINGNESS OF ICAC SPOKESMAN TO CONFIRM THAT THE CRIME WAS GRAVE (EFE STORY FROM HONG KONG QUOTED IN THE CARACAS PRESS OF 6 MARCH). BUT ONE COMMENTATOR AT LEAST HAS WELCOMED THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES' ACTION, ON THE GROUNDS THAT IT IS TIME THAT THE CORRUPT GOT THEIR JUST DESERTS. HE SAYS THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR RAMIREZ TO DO TIME IN HONG KONG SINCE IF RETURNED HERE HE WOULD BE LET OFF LIKE SO MANY OTHERS BEFORE HIM.
5. GRATEFUL TO BE KEPT IMFORMED ABOUT THE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE
VENEZUELAN TEAM IN HONG KONG.
FITZHERBERT
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
52
LIMITED
HKD
SAMD
PROTOCOL
FED
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
52
CONSULAR
LEGAL ADVISERS
MVD
MR GILLMORE
MR MCLAREN
2
PAGE CONFIDENTIAL