FROM:
DATE:
A R Paul
Hong Kong Department
19 December 1989
FILE.
HKB
243 142
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
04 JAN 1990
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PUISTRY
Action Taken
CC:
Private Secretary
Sir Arthur Watts, Legal
Adviser
Mr Gillmore
Mr McLaren
Mr Guy, SEAD
Mr Brenton, UND
Mr Burns, News Department
Mr Gregson, PRU
PS/Mr Maude
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: INTERNATIONAL LAW
1.
Please refer to your minute of 18 December. I attach my minute of 30 November which contains the original advice on this point following consultation with our Legal Advisers. From this you will see that the advice we gave was to use the formula "customary international law". Sir Arthur Watts minuted on 19 December because he was concerned that this formulation might in practice prove something of a mouthful to deliver in the House, and could give rise to misunderstanding. He therefore proposed the simpler, but also
correct formula "under international law".
2. I have spoken to Mr Edwards, who has confirmed that the formula in the Department's original advice is correct, but is also consistent with the formulation in para 3 of Sir Arthur Watts'
minute of 13 December.
BODAAH
AR Ranc
A R Paul
7
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