TNAG-1586-FCO40-2160-Hong-Kong-extradition-application-of-UK-extradition-treatie-1986 — Page 148

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IN TIME FOR JLGVI. WE SHOULD THEREFORE BE GRATEFUL FOR

CONFIRMATION DESKBY 080930Z THAT YOU HAVE NO OBJECTION TO

WASHINGTON SPEAKING ALONG THE FOLLOWING LINES:

4。

·

RATIFICATION OF THE NEW TREATY WILL TAKE PLACE AT A

DELICATE POINT IN OUR DEALINGS WITH THE CHINESE. WE ARE

CURRENTLY LOOKING AT THE WHOLE QUESTION OF EXTRADITION

ARRANGEMENTS FOR HONG KONG POST-1997 AND HOPE TO ENGAGE

THEM IN DISCUSSION OF THIS SUBJECT IN THE NEXT FEW

MONTHS. IT WOULD BE INADVISABLE TO ASK THEM TO CONSIDER

ANY NEW EXTRADITION TREATY IN RELATION TO HONG KONG

BEFORE WE APPROACH THEM ON THE WIDER ISSUE. WE WOULD

PREFER CONSULTATION ON AN INDIVIDUAL TREATY TO TAKE PLACE

IN PARALLEL TO DISCUSSIONS ON GENERAL POLICY. WE

THEREFORE HOPE THE AMERICANS WILL ACCEPT THAT THE

SUSPENSION OF THE NEW TREATY IN RELATION TO HONG KONG

SHOULD LAST FOR A FEW MONTHS WHILE WE FINALISE THE LINE

WE WILL BE TAKING WITH THE CHINESE. WE EXPECT TO OPEN

DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE IN MARCH 1987. WE WILL PUT

THE NEW TREATY TO THEM AT THAT STAGE AND THEREAFTER WOULD

EXPECT A RESPONSE FROM THEM WITHIN 40 DAYS. WE WILL OF

COURSE IN THE MEANTIME KEEP THE AMERICANS INFORMED OF

PROGRESS.

IT WILL STILL BE NECESSARY TO SAY SOMETHING TO THE

CHINESE ABOUT THE NEW TREATY BEFORE 17 DECEMBER. OTHERWISE THEY

MAY BECOME AWARE OF IT, BUT NOT KNOW THAT IT HAS BEEN SUSPENDED

IN RESPECT OF HONG KONG PENDING CONSULTATION WITH THEM. WE WILL

SEND INSTRUCTIONS FOR PEKING TO ACT ONCE WE HAVE CLEARED OUR

LINES WITH THE AMERICANS.

5.

A FINAL POINT. WE WOULD NOT, AS A GENERAL RULE, WANT TO

DEFER CONSULTING THE CHINESE ON A PARTICULAR TREATY SIMPLY

BECAUSE THAT TREATY RELATED TO AN AREA WHICH WE WERE INTENDING TO

DISCUSS IN MORE DETAIL WITH THEM IN DUE COURSE OR BECAUSE WE FELT

THE CHINESE WOULD INSIST ON DISCUSSING WIDER ISSUES (PARA 2 OF

YOUR TUR), SUCH AN APPROACH WOULD SEEM TO OVERLOOK THE REASON

FOR HAVING THE GUIDELINES IN THE FIRST PLACE: TO ENSURE THAT NEW

AGREEMENTS CAN BE EXTENDED TO HONG KONG WITHOUT UNDUE DELAY WHILE

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CONFIDENTIAL