TNAG-2162-FCO40-3093-Legal-matters-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1990 — Page 19

RESTRICTED

ZCZC

RESTRICTED

FM FCO

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG

TELNO

OF 12105OZ DECEMBER 90

AND TO PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG, PEKING

INFO ROUTINE PEKING

+

PRIORITY

RECIPROCAL JUDICIAL ASSISTANCE IN CIVIL AND COMMERCIAL MATTERS:

ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES

1. The Chinese raised this area of work in their question 8 on Mutual Legal Assistance and we have given a holding reply (your

telno 3401).

2. There is a large number of multilateral and bilateral

agreements relating to this subject concluded by the UK and

extended to Hong Kong, falling into four categories:

3.

(a) Recognition and enforcement of foreign judgements

(b) Recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards (c) Services of process abroad

(d) Taking of evidence abroad

Separation of these agreements would represents a considerable task, which it would be preferable to have

concluded well before 1997. The subject does not, however, seem

NESAJF/CL

HKD

PA MAJOR

2655