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CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 15120OZ FCO TELNO 918
OF 151045Z MARCH 90
AND TO DESKBY 151200Z CARACAS
INFO PRIORITY BTC HONG KONG
INFO ROUTINE PEKING
99
CONFIDENTIAL
107)
065654 MDADAN 9988
Y
ANCE COPY
HIC B 400/1
RECE
27AR
CARACAS TELNO 72 (NOT TO BTC HONG KONG): ACTING CONSUL-GENERAL OF VENEZUELA IN HONG KONG.
1. VENEZUELAN TEAM HAVE HAD USEFUL MEETINGS WITH HONG KONG INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION (ICAC) OFFICIALS AND SENIOR CROWN COUNSEL. THE HONG KONG SIDE HAVE SHOWN THE VENEZUELANS THE DETAILED EVIDENCE AGAINST RAMIREZ, WHICH THE VENEZUELANS APPEAR TO HAVE ACCEPTED. THE VENEZUELANS ARGUE THAT THEIR AUTHORITIES SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS AND ANY PROSECUTION ACTION AGAINST RAMIREZ. THEY SEE THIS PROBLEM AS PART OF A MUCH WIDER RING INVOLVING THE ENTRY INTO VENEZUELA OF MANY HUNDREDS OF CHINESE WITH FORGED ENTRY PAPERS, OR WITH GENUINE PAPERS WHICH HAVE BEEN OBTAINED CORRUPTLY.
2. WE HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THE BETTER JURISDICTION FOR THE ACTING CONSUL-GENERAL AND HIS POSSIBLE TRIAL ON CRIMINAL CHARGES OF CORRUPTION WOULD APPEAR TO BE THAT OF VENEZUELA. WE NONETHELESS NEED TO SECURE AN UNDERTAKING FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF VENEZUELA THAT IT WILL PURSUE VIGOROUSLY ITS INVESTIGATION INTO THE ALLEGED CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES OF RAMIREZ IN HONG KONG WITH A VIEW TO HIS PROSECUTION BEFORE THE COURTS IN VENEZUELA.
3. THE POLITICAL ADVISER TODAY (15 MARCH) SOUGHT SUCH AN UNDERTAKING FROM WAIZER (OF DISIP). AMBASSADOR WILLS LEFT HONG KONG YESTERDAY. HE WILL NOT APPARENTLY BE BACK IN CARACAS UNTIL EARLY NEXT WEEK. EHRMAN SAID THAT THE ICAC WOULD OFFER ALL NECESSARY ASSISTANCE TO THE VENEZUELAN AUTHORITIES TO ENABLE THEM TO PURSUE THEIR INVESTIGATION AND TO FACILITATE ANY PROSECUTION OF THE ACTING CONSUL-GENERAL. HE ASKED THAT THE VENEZUELAN AUTHORITIES SHOULD, IN THEIR TURN, OFFER ALL NECESSARY ASSISTANCE TO ICAC TO ENABLE IT TO CONCLUDE ITS INVESTIGATIONS OF CERTAIN HONG KONG RESIDENTS BELIEVED TO HAVE OFFERED ADVANTAGES TO THE CONSUL-GENERAL.
4. WAIZER SAID IN REPLY: QUOTE WITH RESPECT TO THIS CASE WE ARE
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CONFIDENTIAL
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