TNAG-1996-FCO40-2843-Hong-Kong-Drug-Trafficking-(Recovery-of-Proceeds)-Ordinance--1991 — Page 316

FM KUALA LUMPUR

RESTRICTED TO DESKBY 31083OZ FCO

TO DESKBY 31083OZ FCO

TELNO DISTRESS 29

OF 31064OZ MAY 89

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

нко 385/2

SUSPECTED DUPLICATE

27

14201.4

MDHIAN 7010

раз

24

YOUR DISTRESS 18 OF 18 MAY AND OUR TELNO 290 OF 26 MAY: GREGORY AND THE HONG KONG 8

(26)

1. WE DO NOT KNOW WHETHER THE CASE OF THE HK8 WILLALSO

BE CONSIDERED ON 8 JUNE, BUT, THOUGH THIS WOULD BE UNUSUALLY QUICK, WE MUST CLEARLY BE PREPARED FOR THE EVENTUALITY. YOUR DISTRESS 18 OF 818 MAY SAYS PAPERS ARE BEING PREPARED SO THAT, IF NECESSARY, WE CAN HAND A MESSAGE ABOUT THE HK8 FROM THE PRIME MINISTER TO THE GOVERNOR AND TO DR MAHATHIR IMMEDIATELY WE ARE TOLD OF THE BOARD'S DECISION. THIS IS LIKELY TO BE VERY SOON AFTER IT SISTS. WE THEREFORE NEED A TEXT APPROVED BY NO 10 BEFORE 8 JUNE, AND AUTHORISATION TO DELIVER IT: (I.E. EXACTLY THE ARRANGEMENT WE NOW HAVE FOR GREGORY). WE CANNOT AFFORD TO WAIT UNTIL AFTERWARDS.

WE ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER OUR PRESS LINE, PARTICULARLY ON GREGORY. IF WE CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN SILENCE, EVEN AFTER THE PARDONS BOARD DECISION (WHICH WILL NOT NECESSARILY BE PUBLICISED BY THE MALAYSIAN AUTHORITIES) HAS BEEN MADE WE OPEN OURSELVES TO CRITICISM FOR FAILING TO INFORM OUR OWN PRESS THROUGH WHOM EXTRA PRESSURE IT MAY BE ARGUED, COULD HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO BEAR ON BEHALF OF GREGORY. WE KNOW THAT THE PARDONS BOARD DECISION WILL BE FINAL, AND THAT THIS SORT OF PRESSURE CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO ALTER IT, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THE PRESS WILL NOT SEE IT THIS WAY. THE TIMING OF THE DELIVERY OF THE MESSAGES FROM THE PRIME MINISTER TO THE GOVERNOR AND TO DR MAHATHIR, AFTER THE PARDONS BOARD DECISION, HAS BEEN AGREED. WE SHOULD THEREFORE, I BELIEVE, BE READY TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT, AS SOON AS WE KNOW THE DECISION ON BOTH GREGORY AND THE HK8, SHOULD THAT BE NECESSARY.

3. IF THIS IS AGREED, WE THEN NEED TO CONSIDER WHERE THE ANNOUNCEMENT SHOULD BE MADE. SINCE IT IS, IN THE CASE OF GREGORY, DIRECTED PRIMARILY AT THE BRITISH PRESS, MY VIEW IS THAT IT WOULD

BEST BE MADE IN LONDON. IF THE CASE OF THE HK 8 HAS ALSO BEEN DECIDED, HONG KONG MAY WELL WISH TO MAKE A PARALLEL ANNOUNCEMENT. WE SHOULD THEN USE BOTH PRESS STATEMENTS LOCALLY IF REQUIRED.