CONFIDENTIAL
FM CARACAS
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 59
CONFIDENTIAL
OF 06180OZ MARCH 1990
AND TO IMMEDIATE ACTOR
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
INFO DESKBY 07010OZ HONG KONG
74
HK B
RECEIVED IN A
032624
400 /1
MDHIAN 9898
RY
0 8 MAR 1990
DESK INDEX
TOP COP
MY TELNO 57:
SUMMARY
VENEZUELAN ACTING CONSUL GENERAL IN HONG KONG
1. VENEZUELANS REMAIN KEEN TO SEE RAMIREZ RETURNED TO VENEZUELA. DOUBTS EXPRESSED ABOUT LEGALITY, UNDER THE VIENNA CONVENTION, OF RAMIREZ' ARREST.
DETAIL
2. THE VENEZUELAN MFA/POLICE TEAM SHOULD BY NOW HAVE ARRIVED IN HONG KONG. THE DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER, TAYLHARDAT, TOLD ME AT A RECEPTION ON 5 MARCH THAT AMBASSADOR WILLS (MFA) IS ACCOMPANIED BY A COMMISSIONER FROM DISIP, AND THAT THE TEAM WAS PROBABLY TO BE JOINED BY A THIRD MEMBER, AN OFFICER FROM THE 'TECHNICAL AND JUDICIAL POLICE' (PTJ). THE PRESS MEANWHILE HAVE REPORTED THAT THE TEAM WILL BE JOINED BY A CONSUL BASED IN SAN FRANCISCO TO REPLACE RAMIREZ.
3. IT WAS CLEAR FROM MY CONVERSATION WITH TAYLHARDAT THAT THE VENEZUELANS ARE LIKELY TO PRESS HARD TO HAVE RAMIREZ RETURNED TO THIS COUNTRY. HE SAID THAT OUR RESPONSE TO THE VENEZUELAN REQUEST FOR RAMIREZ' RETURN WAS AWAITED.
4. THERE HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIAL COVERAGE OF THE AFFAIR IN THE CARACAS PRESS. THERE ARE REFERENCES TODAY, 6 MARCH, TO 'MALESTAR' (UNEASE, DISCOMFORT, IRRITATION) IN THE MFA ABOUT HONG KONG'S ACTION IN ARRESTING RAMIREZ WITHOUT REGARD TO HIS APPARENT RIGHT TO IMMUNITY UNDER THE VIENNA CONVENTION. THERE HAS BEEN SOME INFORMED ANALYSIS, IN THE CONTEXT OF THE VIENNA CONVENTION, OF THE LEGAL RIGHTS AND WRONGS OF HIS ARREST. WHILE RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE ADEQUACY OF THE PRIOR JUDICIAL PROCESS HAVE BEEN MENTIONED, MORE HAS BEEN MADE OF THE QUESTION OF DIPLOMATIC/CONSULAR IMMUNITY. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT EVEN IF RAMIREZ WAS OVERCHARGING FOR VISAS, HE WAS STILL
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