TNAG-2089-FCO40-2974-Diplomatic-representation-of-third-countries-in-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 194

109

CONFIDENTIAL

ADVANCE COPI

HKB 400 / 1

RECEIV

23 MAR 1990

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 15120OZ FCO

TELNO 920

OF 151045Z MARCH 90

AND TO DESKBY 151200Z CARACAS

INFO PRIORITY BTC HONG KONG

INFO ROUTINE PEKING

--

12

065664

MDADAN 9991

of Harmell

There Ś

achön

in

have four protocol dest

would уги & Grate hal in

chrony them along,

MY 2ND IPT: ACTING CONSUL-GENERAL OF VENEZUELA IN HONG KONG

1

1513

THE DOYEN OF THE CONSULAR CORP WROTE TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ON 6 MARCH ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE ARREST OF RAMIREZ.

2. THE CHIEF SECRETARY REPLIED ON 9 MARCH. HE SAID THAT THE ARREST OF A CONSULAR OFFICER AND HEAD OF MISSION WAS NOT/NOT A STEP THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN WITHOUT CAREFUL CONSIDERATION AND WITHOUT FULLEST CONSULTATION WITH HMG. HE STRESSED THAT THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES HAD ACTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 41 OF THE VIENNA CONVENTION ON CONSULAR RELATIONS AND A DECISION OF THE COMPETENT JUDICIAL AUTHORITY, I.E. THE CHIEF MAGISTRATE OF HONG KONG. IT WAS NOT THE PRACTICE OF THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES TO COMMENT ON ICAC OPERATIONAL INVESTIGATIONS. ICAC HAD SIMPLY CONFIRMED THAT THE ARREST HAD BEEN MADE AND THAT AN INVESTIGATION WAS CONTINUING INTO A SUSPECTED OFFENCE UNDER THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE. THE OFFENCE IN QUESTION WAS A GRAVE CRIME WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE VIENNA CONVENTION.

3. ONCE WE OBTAIN THE NECESSARY UNDERTAKING FROM THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT, WE PLAN TO FOLLOW UP WITH ANOTHER LETTER TO THE DOYEN HERE INFORMING HIM OF IT, AND OF RAMIREZ'S RETURN TO VENEZUELA. WE HOPE THAT THIS WILL CALM THE CORPS DOWN. SEVERAL OF ITS EUROPEAN AND LATIN AMERICAN MEMBERS HAVE BECOME EXERCISED ABOUT THIS CASE. ONE OR TWO HAVE ILL-ADVISEDLY AND WITH LITTLE VEILED ANONYMITY SPOKEN TO THE PRESS IN INTEMPERATE TERMS CLAIMING THAT RAMIREZ'S ARREST BREACHES DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY AND THAT ICAC AS WELL AS I PERSONALLY HAVE ERRED GRIEVOUSLY IN ALLOWING IT. A STORY BASED ON SUCH REMARKS APPEARS IN TODAY'S (15 MARCH) SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST.

4. MUCH OF THE AGITATION HAS BEEN WHIPPED UP BY THE NETHERLANDS' CONSUL-GENERAL HERE. HE IS SOMETHING OF A MAVERICK AND WE ARE FAR

PAGE

1

CONFIDENTIAL