HKC385/1

fe the drugs & Bud counties.

Das Major

for 2314.

27

FROM: Miss S Brooks

Legal Counsellor

K199

270 3069

DATE: 22 April 1991

CC:

Mr Vallance,

C7, Home Office

Ms Bourne

ERD

fi.

23/4.

Mr Stone, HKD

Mr Carter, SED

HONG KONG/GIBRALTAR: MUTUAL ASSISTANCE IN RELATION TO DRUG TRAFFICKING

1. The Hong Kong Government have proposed to enter into an arrangement with the Gibraltar Government concerning mutual legal assistance in relation to Drug Trafficking. The Hong Kong Government envisage that this would be achieved by an exchange of letters between the two Governments which would constitute an arrangement. Draft guidelines would accompany such an exchange. These would form the basis for cooperation under the arrangement. I understand that in principle the Gibraltar Government is content to conclude such arrangement The form for the arrangement as proposed by the Hong Kong Government is acceptable. The arrangement and guidelines would be non-binding but it would not be appropriate for two dependent territories to enter into a binding commitment under an agreement. You will see from the letter from Mr Bone (ERD) of 8 November 1990 to the Governor of Hong Kong which you kindly attached that the UK proposed mutual assistance arrangements with Hong Kong which took the identical form (exchange of letters and guidelines).

2.

We spoke just now about the amendments which I suggested making to your draft letter.

Shelagh Brooks:

S Brooks

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