CONFIDENTIAL
AMBASSADOR IN ROMANIA IN 1991.
021303
MDHIAN 3667
HE WAS AN IMPORTANT TERRORIST.
5. IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE MEA WERE SEEKING OUR COOPERATION IN ENSURING THAT THE SUSPECTS WERE PUT ON A DIRECT FLIGHT TO INDIA. THEY NEED NOT NECESSARILY BE DELIVERED INTO THE CUSTODY OF THE INDIAN POLICE IN HONG KONG. AT THE VERY LEAST, THE INDIANS HOPED THAT THEIR DEPARTURE FROM HONG KONG COULD BE DELAYED SUFFICIENTLY TO ENABLE THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES TO EXAMINE THE INDIAN EVIDENCE WITH A VIEW TO THEIR AGREEING TO
DIRECT DEPORTATION.
COMMENT
6. WE ARE NOT OF COURSE ABLE TO JUDGE FROM HERE THE MERITS OF THE INDIAN CASE. BUT THE CONSIDERABLE RECENT PROGRESS OVER COUNTER-TERRORIST COOPERATION WITH INDIA HAS BEEN OF GREAT VALUE IN ITS OWN RIGHT AND HAS HAD SIGNIFICANT BENEFICIAL POLITICAL SPIN-OFF. IT WOULD THEREFORE BE ADVANTAGEOUS, AND POSSIBLY ASSIST IN ENSURING FINALISATION OF AN EXTRADITION TREATY DURING THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT HERE IN NOVEMBER, IF IT WERE POSSIBLE TO RESPOND POSITIVELY TO THE INDIAN REQUEST.
7.
GRATEFUL TO BE KEPT INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS AND FOR INSTRUCTIONS DESKBY 06030OZ SEPTEMBER ON HOW TO RESPOND TO THE
INDIANS.
FENN
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
177
MAIN
160
.TERRORISM
INTERNATIONAL
.(GENERAL)
HKD
SEAD
SCD
PS
AMD
LEGAL ADVISERS
PUSD
CONSULAR D
ECD (I)
CFSP UNIT
HRPD
PAGE
PS/BARONESS CHALKER
PS/MR HOGG
PS/MR GOODLAD
PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD
PS/PUS
CHIEF CLERK
MR LANKESTER
2
CONFIDENTIAL