TNAG-1921-FCO40-2726-Mutual-legal-assistance-between-the-UK-and-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 17

CODE 18-77

LEGAAR

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Reference...

НКВ 371/2

20

Note for File

MUTUAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE

1.

Mr Stock (Solicitor-General, Hong Kong) and Mr Little (from the office of the Law Officer (International Law), Hong Kong) called on Mr Edwards and myself on 22 June to discuss a number of issues.

2. On mutual legal assistance, they reported that the ExCo paper cleared with us, which dealt only with criminal matters, had now been approved. The time frame for action remained to be considered. In the light of events in China, was it still appropriate to hold discussions in the JLG first, or should the Hong Kong Government press ahead with negotiating MLATS? We advised that individual agreements would in any event have to be discussed with the Chinese under agreed guidelines for new treaties. It would be better to secure Chinese agreement in principle to the concept of MLATS, and to a draft model text, and to negotiate on that basis. We assumed that a delay for some time until JLG business resumes would not be too troublesome.

3.

On drugs, Messrs Stock and Little explained that the Hong Kong Government were currently considering the basis for "designation" under their legislation. It was intended to aim for agreements with the UK and the US as first priorities. We encouraged them to let us have a telegram setting out a possible exchange of notes for a UK/Hong Kong agreement.

4. I am today sending a chaser telegram to Hong Kong to pick up outstanding points from our telno 1124 of 24 May.

HKB 371/2

ران آنا جانا مانا

ель

C T Wood

28 June 1989

ہوئے

Hong Kong Department WH 304

270 2655

: Mr Edwards, Legal Advisers

Mr Waterworth, Legal Advisers

Mr Hawkins, ERD

Mr Stock, Solicitor-General, Hong Kong

Mr Little, LO(IL), Government Secretariat, Hong Kong

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