TNAG-2086-FCO40-2971-Extradition-of-Dr-Mohamed-Rais-bin-Saniman-from-France-to-Ho-1990 — Page 3

CONFIDENTIAL

020432

MDLIAN 1125

CONFIDENTIAL

FM PARIS

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO MISC 382

OF 14180OZ SEPTEMBER 90

INFO PRIORITY FCO

ハ

Q DIST 38+/1

100

CORRECTED VERSION

YOUR TELNO 11 : DR RAIS BIN SANIMAN

1. OUR NOTE NO 180 TRANSMITTING THE DOCUMENTS WAS DELIVERED TO SERVICE DES ACCORDS AT THE QUAI ON THE MORNING OF 13 SEPTEMBER. THE MINISTER FOLLOWED UP WITH THE QUAI'S DIRECTOR OF LEGAL AFFAIRS LATER THAT DAY. THE DIRECTOR ADVISED US TO MAKE AN APPROACH TO A SENIOR OFFICER OF THE DIRECTION RESPONSIBLE FOR LEGAL CONVENTIONS. WE DID THIS, THIS AFTERNOON.

2. WE UNDERLINED THREE POINTS

A) THE COMPLICATED HISTORY OF THE CASE AND THE WISH OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO AVOID, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, THE RISK OF ANY REPETITION OF THE UNSUCCESSFUL OUTCOME OF THE EARLIER EXTRADITION PROCEEDINGS. WE SAID THAT GREAT CARE HAD BEEN TAKEN BY THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES AND THEIR LAWYERS TO ENSURE THAT ALL THE RELEVANT

INFORMATION WAS BEFORE THE COURT :

B) THERE WAS LITIGATION IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS CONCERNING ANOTHER ACCUSED IN THE SAME CASE. THE DECISION OF THE FRENCH COURT WOULD

THEREFORE HAVE WIDER ECHOES AND IMPLICATIONS.

C) THE CASE WAS GENERALLY OF GREAT SENSITIVITY TO THE HONG KONG

GOVERNMENT CONCERNING AS IT DID THE PROBITY OF FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS IN HONG KONG, AND THEREFORE THE LATTER'S REPUTATION AS A FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS CENTRE.

3. WE MADE CLEAR THAT WE WERE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, AND WITH ALL PROPER REGARD FOR THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE FRENCH LEGAL SYSTEM. MME BOIVINEAU SAID THAT SHE UNDERSTOOD THE SPIRIT IN WHICH THE REMARKS WERE MADE, THAT SHE WOULD CALL UP THE FILE TO ACQUAINT HERSELF WITH THE OUTLINES OF THE CASE AND WOULD SPEAK TO THE CABINET OF THE JUSTICE MINISTER THEREAFTER.

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