TNAG-1710-FCO40-2386-Royal-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 171

MX

Mr Arkwright

HKD

Head 38511

RECEIVED IN

COCT 1987

OBLICER

FROM:

Paul Fifoot

REGISTRY

FA

Petion Taken

DATE:

5 August 1987

8

UN CONVENTION ON ILLICIT DRUG TRAFFICKING: YOUR MINUTE OF 24 JULY

$85

EXTENSION TO HONG KONG

1.

Of the two variants, my own preference is for the latter as it is permissive rather than mandatory in language. But, subject to paragraph 2 below, we could live with variant A which, having regard to the exception which applies both to matters of law and to matters of practice ("or required by custom"), gives us sufficient discretion only to apply in circumstances where the dependent territory is willing to agree to the extension of the Convention. Variant A is the formula used in both the 1961 and 1971 Conventions and, therefore, is the variant more likely to be acceptable to the international community.

2.

A possible objection to continuing with variant A would be if we started to receive objections to the kind of ratifications annexed to your minute or to the kind of notification given on our ratification of the Narcotics Convention.

Fand difors

Paul Fifoot

Legal Advisers