TNAG-2088-FCO40-2973-Diplomatic-representation-of-third-countries-in-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 76

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM CARACAS

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 44

OF 231745Ż FEBRUARY 1990

AND TO IMMEDIATE ACTOR

HK B

RECEIVED A

400/1

RY

AR 1990

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG AND PEKING

1

177003

MDHIAN 8416

TOP COPY Q DIST ?

HONG KONG TELNO 689: ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION AGAINST VENEZUELAN

CONSULATE IN HONG KONG

1. WE ARE FOLLOWING THE DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG WITH INTEREST.

IT IS STILL THE CASE HERE THAT THE VENEZUELAN AUTHORITIES HAVE NOT BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE EMBASSY, THOUGH THE PRESS REPORTS THAT THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR HAS BEEN CALLED IN.

2. WE UNDERSTAND FROM FURTHER PHONE CALLS FROM KERSHAW (ICAC HONG KONG) THAT THE ICAC THERE HAS TALKED TO DR NERIO RAUSEU, VICE- MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR AND ACTING HEAD OF DIEX. LOCAL PRESS

REPORTS ALSO SUGGEST THAT THERE HAVE BEEN CONTACTS ON THE POLICE

NETWORK BETWEEN VENEZUELA AND HONG KONG.

3. WE HAD CONSIDERED WHETHER IT MIGHT BE DESIRABLE TO BRIEF THE MFA HERE IMMEDIATELY AFTER ANY ARREST WAS CARRIED OUT, BUT HAVE DECIDED THAT THIS IS UNLIKELY TO BE NECESSARY IN THE VIEW OF THE

CONTACT ALREADY ESTABLISHED BETWEEN HONG KONG AND THE INTERIOR MINISTRY. IN ANY CASE, THE PUBLIC HOLIDAYS HERE ON 26 AND 27 FEBRUARY WILL MAKE THAT IMPRACTICABLE IF THE ARRESTS ARE CARRIED OUT

THEN. GRATEFUL HOWEVER FOR AN UPDATE ON WEDNESDAY 28 FEBRUARY.

YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST TELEPHONED

ON 23 FEBRUARY. WE SAID WE HAD NO COMMENT.

4.

5. SEE MIFT (NOT TO ALL).

FITZHERBERT

YYYY

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CONFIDENTIAL