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CONFIDENTIAL
OCMIAN 2251
CONFIDENTIAL
00 ΡΕΚΙΝ
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
GRS 624
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 2756
OF 281230Z NOVEMBER 86
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, WASHINGTON
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
2251 1
1.
1
YOUR TELNO 3983: UK/USA SUPPLEMENTARY EXTRADITION TREATY
WE ACCEPT THAT IT WOULD NOT BE TACTICALLY IDEAL TO
CONSULT THE CHINESE ON THE APPLICATION TO HONG KONG OF A NEW
EXTRADITION TREATY SHORTLY BEFORE DISCUSSING WITH THEM THE WHOLE
QUESTION OF POST-1997 EXTRADITION ARRANGEMENTS. ON THE OTHER
HAND, SUSPENDING APPLICATION OF THE NEW TREATY TO HONG KONG WHILE
THE WHOLE QUESTION OF EXTRADITION WAS DISCUSSED WITH THE CHINESE
WOULD LENGTHEN VERY CONSIDERABLY THE PERIOD DURING WHICH THE NEW
TREATY WAS SUSPENDED IN RESPECT OF HONG KONG. WE FEAR THIS COULD
PUT US INTO FURTHER DIFFICULTIES WITH THE AMERICANS. (THIS IS
CONFIRMED BY WASHINGTON WHOM WE HAVE CONSULTED BY TELEPHONE.) AS
YOU KNOW THE AMERICANS WERE ANYWAY SOMEWHAT RELUCTANT TO ACCEPT
THE PROCEDURE NOW AGREED. BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL IMPORTANCE OF
RATIFYING THIS TREATY SOON (SEE BELOW) WE WOULD BE MOST UNWILLING
TO ACCEPT THE RISKS INHERENT IN PUTTING OFF FURTHER THE POINT AT
WHICH THE TREATY WAS APPLIED TO HONG KONG.
2.
OUR FIRM VIEW IS THEREFORE THAT WE SHOULD NOW CONSULT THE
CHINESE ON THE NEW TREATY, WHILE MAKING IT PLAIN THAT THE WHOLE
SUBJECT OF EXTRADITION IS ONE WHICH WE HOPE TO DISCUSS WITH THEM
IN DETAIL SOON. WE DO NOT THINK THE RISKS IN SUCH A COURSE ARE
AS GREAT AS YOU SUGGEST. IN PARTICULAR, WE THINK THEY CAN BE
REDUCED TO AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL IF WE EMPHASISE TO THE CHINESE:
1
CONFIDENTIAL
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