UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
FM FCO
TO ROUTINE HONG KONG
TELNO 633
OF 02143OZ JULY 93
HKB 102/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
INFO ROUTINE WASHINGTON
InucX
03 AMG 1993
PA
REGISTRY Action fake
16
027656
MDLOAN 6646
YOUR TELNO 924: CAMARO CASE
-
LETTER OF REQUEST BY US DISTRICT
COURT TO HKSB AND STANDARD CHARTERED BANK (SCB)
1. AS YOU KNOW WE HAVE INVESTED TIME AND EFFORT IN PERSUADING THE US TO SEEK TO OBTAIN THE INFORMATION THEY WANT FROM HKSB AND SCB BY ISSUING LETTERS OF REQUEST RATHER THAN MANDATORY SUBPOENAS. WE WERE THEREFORE DISAPPOINTED TO LEARN THAT THE SUPREME COURT OF HONG KONG HAS SET ASIDE THE ORDER GIVING EFFECT TO THE US LETTER OF REQUEST.
2.
WE UNDERSTAND FROM WASHINGTON THAT THAT SPRINGER (DOJ) HAS DISCUSSED WITH THE HONG KONG CROWN SOLICITOR RECASTING THE REQUEST SO THAT IT CAN BE ISSUED BY THE ALABAMA DISTRICT COURT. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL TO KNOW HOW FAR THESE DISCUSSIONS HAVE PROGRESSED, AND HOW YOU SEE MATTERS DEVELOPING. DO YOU FORESEE ANY OTHER POTENTIAL PROBLEMS? WHAT IS THE LIKELY TIMESCALE?
3.
IT IS REASSURING THAT THE DOJ, WHILST OBVIOUSLY IRRITATED BY THE SETTING ASIDE OF THE ORDER, IS PREPARED TO CONTINUE TO SEEK THE INFORMATION IT WANTS THROUGH LETTERS OF REQUEST RATHER THAN RESORTING TO MANDATORY SUBPOENAS. BUT WE STILL NEED TO CONVINCE THE DOJ (AND THE IRS) THAT LETTERS OF REQUEST OFFER A RELIABLE AND TIMELY WAY OF OBTAINING INFORMATION, AND ARE TO BE PREFERRED TO MANDATORY SUBPOENAS. WE SHOULD THEREFORE BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO DO WHAT YOU CAN TO ASSIST THE DOJ IN RECASTING THE REQUEST:
HURD
YYYY
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