TNAG-2164-FCO40-3097-Judicial-arrangements-between-Hong-Kong-and-Brunei-1990 — Page 2

CONFIDENTIAL

7

005674 MDLIAN 4151

CONFIDENTIAL

FM BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG TELNO U/N

HKC323

RECEIV

RY

14 DEC 1990

OF 12070OZ DECEMBER 90

INDLA

HKC 373/1

PM12/12

ukci

AND TO ROUTINE FCO

BRUNEI JUDICIARY

1.

PENGIRAN BAHRIN THE MINISTER OF LAW HAS RECEIVED A TELEPHONE CALL FROM THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST TO ASK FOR A STATEMENT ON THE STAFFING OF THE COURT OF APPEAL IN BRUNEI.

2. BAHRIN DECLINED COMMENT TO THE NEWSPAPER AND HAS ASKED IF ANY BRIEFING HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE PRESS IN HONG KONG WHICH MAY HAVE PROMPTED THE ENQUIRY PARTICULARLY ABOUT THE COURT OF APPEAL.

3. THE INVOLVEMENT OF HONG KONG JUDGES IN BRUNEI IS NO SECRET BUT THE CORRESPONDENCE ABOUT THE TIMETABLE FOR THE DISENGAGEMENT HAS REMAINED CONFIDENTIAL AMONG US. IN HIS LETTER OF 7 FEBRUARY TO DAVID COLVIN SEAD WHICH WAS COPIED TO THE CHIEF JUSTICE, THE HIGH COMMISSIONER REPORTED THAT BAHRIN SAID PUBLICALLY AT THE OPENING OF THE LEGAL YEAR IN JANUARY THAT THE SERVICE OF HONG KONG JUDGES WOULD CEASE BY 1997. SINCE JANUARY WE HAVE PUT BAHRIN STRAIGHT ON THE EARLIER TIMING OF 1992 AND LAST SPOKE TO HIM IN NOVEMBER FOLLOWING THE GOVERNOR'S LETTER OF 2 OCTOBER.

4. IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION TO BAHRIN'S RESPONDING TO THE PRESS IT WILL BE HELPFUL TO GIVE HIM A FORM OF WORDS WHICH SUIT US. ALTERNATIVELY WE COULD SUGGEST TO BAHRIN THAT HE SIMPLY TELLS THE PRESS THAT THE MATTER OF STAFFING IS STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION. BAHRIN HAS ASKED FOR AN EARLY REPLY.

WHITTON

YYYY

1

PAGE CONFIDENTIAL