RESTRICTED
FM CARACAS
TO DESKBY 20010OZ HONG KONG
TELNO 02
OF 192OOOZ MARCH 90
INFO PRIORITY FCO
INFO ROUTINE PEKING
RESTRICTED
HKB 400/1
RECEDED
RY
? 4 MAR 1990
CER
INDEX
PA
Actio
112
100611 MDLIAN 7563
MY TELNO 80 TO FCO: ACTING CONSUL-GENERAL OF VENEZUELA IN HONG KONG
1. FURTHER REMARKS MADE TO THE PRESS OVER THE WEEKEND BY YANES PASARELLA, DIRECTOR OF THE TECHNICAL AND JUDICIAL POLICE (PTJ) MAY BE HELPFUL
2. PASARELLA IS QUOTED IN THE PRESS OF 18 MARCH AS SAYING JIMINEZ, A MEMBER OF THE VENEZUELAN TEAM SENT TO HONG KONG, HAD RETURNED TO CARACAS WITH VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION. AS A RESULT OF WHAT HAD BEEN OBTAINED THROUGH THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES, AND OF THE TEAM'S OWN INVESTIGATION IN THE CONSULATE ITSELF, THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF A SERIES OF IRREGULARITIES IN THE HANDLING OF VENEZUELAN VISAS. OTHER UNOFFICIAL SOURCES ARE QUOTED AS SAYING THAT THE CONSUL AND THE DIEX (IMMIGRATION) DIRECTOR ARE MUCH IMPLICATED, AND THAT THE JUDGE HAS ENOUGH DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE TO PUT THEM ON
TRIAL. ONE HEADLINE SAYS 'CONSUL IN HONG KONG UP TO HIS NECK IN
THE TRAFFIC IN CHINESE.'
3. YANEZ PASARELLA IS FURTHER REPORTED AS SAYING THAT THE VENEZUELAN
TEAM HAD TO RETURN WITHOUT RAMIREZ: THE BRITISH POLICE AUTHORITIES DID NOT WISH TO HAND HIM OVER SINCE THEIR TASK WAS NOT YET OVER. THE REPORT ADDS THAT CONSULS DO NOT ENJOY DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY: THAT IS ONLY FOR AMBASSADORS. PASARELLA IS QUOTED IN ANOTHER REPORT AS SAYING THAT RAMIREZ WOULD PROBABLY BE BROUGHT BACK TO VENEZUELA
AT THE END OF THE MONTH.
FITZHERBERT
YYYY
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