CONFIDENTIAL
21
01553 MDHIAN 0623
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2383
OF 30094OZ JULY 90
HKC385/2
RECE
31 JUL 1980
PESK OF
TOP COPY Q DIST ??
JISTRY
wution Taken
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLGI HONG KONG
19
Tel out.
fa PM 3417
YOUR TELNO 1412 : HK/CANADA DRUG TRAFFICKING AGREEMENT
1. A SPECIAL ARTICLE FEATURED IN MING PAO ON 27 JULY REPORTED AN INTERVIEW WITH ROBERT DESJARDINS, A FIRST SECRETARY AT THE CANADIAN COMMISSION IN HONG KONG, CONCERNING CANADA'S POLICY TOWARDS HONG KONG. IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT WOULD WISH TO ENTER INTO A SERIES OF BILATERAL AGREEMENT WITH HONG KONG AND THAT NEGOTIATION ON A BILATERAL AGREEMENT ON DRUG TRAFFICKING OFFENCES WAS UNDERWAY. DESJARDINS WAS REPORTED AS HAVING SAID THAT A CANADIAN TEAM OF FIVE CAME TO HONG KONG FOR TALKS EARLIER THIS YEAR AND HE EXPECTED THAT AN AGREEMENT WOULD BE SIGNED WITH HONG KONG THIS AUTUMN. THE FORMAT OF THE AGREEMENT WOULD BE SO DESIGNED AS TO ACCOMMODATE AMENDMENTS IN DUE COURSE TO INCLUDE OTHER AREAS OF COOPERATION, SUCH AS EXTRADITION OF CRIMINALS.
COMMENT
2. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT, BEFORE WE HAVE A CHANCE TO INFORM THE CHINESE THE CANADIANS REVEALED TO THE PRESS OUR NEGOTIATION WITH THEM ON A BILATERAL DRUGS AGREEMENT. THIS IS PARTICULAR SO GIVEN THAT THEY HAVE EARLIER AGREED THAT NO PUBLICITY SHOULD BE GIVEN. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN APPROACHED BY THE PRESS, PROBABLY PROMPTED BY THIS REPORT, BUT WOULD NOT BE DRAWN. WE SHALL TAKE A SUITABLE OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND THE CANADIANS THAT OUR NEGOTIATIONS WITH THEM SHOULD REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL AT THIS STAGE.
3. SHOULD THE CHINESE ASK US OR UKREP JLG TO CONFIRM THE PRESS REPORT, WE SUGGEST RESPONDING VERY BRIEFLY ALONG THE LINES AS IN PARA 3 OF TUR. WE WOULD ADD THAT WE WOULD INFORM THEM BEFORE THE TIME LIMITED AGREEMENT IS TO BE SIGNED.
4. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS.
FORD
FORMALLY
YYYY
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