TNAG-2165-FCO40-3100-Agreements-between-Hong-Kong-and-third-countries-regarding-d-1990 — Page 71

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subsumed under future comprehensive mutual legal assistance arrangements, covering all fields of mutual legal assistance (including drugs), which Hong Kong intend to enter into with

foreign jurisdictions before 1997. We shall need to consult

the Chinese fully about these and the process is likely to

take some time. The drugs agreements are intended as an

interim arrangement only, to meet a growing practical need

for cooperation in combatting trafficking in drugs.

As a

matter of courtesy we intend to inform the Chinese of Hong Kong's intention to sign time-limited drugs agreements and

reassure them that they will be consulted fully in due

course when we deal with mutual legal assistance.

P A Major (Ms)

MUKAJT/3

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