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drafted in this sense, but obviously the draft will have to be examined carefully by legal advisers in Hong Kong and London.
In slower time, Hong Kong and HKD need to consider various other points raised by Saniman's lawyer in his observations to the Conseil d'Etat. We are writing separately on these.
5.
6.
If we do not succeed in interrupting the process underway in the Ministry of Justice, there will still be time to intervene. Mme Masse-Dessen believes that the earliest that the Conseil d'Etat could reach its final judgement would be the second half of June. But once the new Minister of Justice has put his signature to any account of the existing position of his officials, our chances of success are diminished.
7. If it is possible to get the text of a message from the Attorney General agreed in time, we would intend to hand it over to the cabinet of the Justice Minister late on 23 April. This is the target at which we should aim. It might not be too late on 26 April. Mme Masse-Dessen said that the timetable for making observations does occasionally slip by a few days.
8.
Please advance to the Legal Adviser, Elliott, HD/HKD.
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