CODE 18-77
Мг
ar
Jainly fi
© enter
Ith drugs
a third counties
2 Bu
3 weeks.*
Reference
It's Mayer fi
HKC 385 1
10
Ms C Whitehorn
NCAD
Enter
CC: Mr Støn
stone,
1988 Convention in Dings
HKD
6524/2
2572
27 FEB 1991
HONG KONG AND THE 1988 UN CONVENTION ON DRUGS
1. In the Margins of the Financial Action Task Force meeting in Paris on 18 February, David Weeks (Hong Kong's Drugs Commissioner) asked me how matters stood on ratification of the 1988 UN Convention. Would the UK's ratification apply to Hong Kong? I told him the UK intended to ratify soon after Easter and I thought that our ratification could be extended to cover our DTs if they had all the necessary domestic legislation. He thought Hong Kong did not.
2. He then pointed out to me the article which obliges Parties to the Convention to render each other mutual legal assistance. He wondered whether this meant that if the UK, Hong Kong and China ratified, Hong Kong would be obliged to render whatever assistance might be requested by China under the Convention. He seemed to have in mind assistance which might lead to the trial and conviction by Chinese courts of Hong Kong nationals. I told him I was not familiar with the detail of the Convention but it would, presumably, depend upon the types of legal assistance and the grounds for refusal of assistance specified in the Convention.
3. I would be grateful if you could respond to David Weeks' concerns when you are able and, if necessary, correct any erroneous impressions I may have given him.
*
never
Bu'd by Registry.
see HKC 385/3 4
for NCAO's comments.
Andi Saper
A K Soper
Economic Relations Department
22 February 1991
TRY
Page 75Page 76
CODE 18-77