TNAG-2331-FCO40-3390-Reciprocal-judicial-assistance-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-c-1991 — Page 3

CODE 18-77

Mr Seaton FED

Reference

thic 3705

า

UK/CHINA MUTUAL JUDICIAL ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT

1. Please refer to your minute of 28 November.

2. Our dealings with China concerning the service of documents and taking of evidence are very few at present one or two services per annum in the UK and maybe slightly more in China. We cannot recall any cases for the taking of evidence in civil matters.

3. We are occasionally asked to forward documents to Hong Kong on behalf of foreign countries, but otherwise do not deal with the HK Government.

4. The Hague Conventions on both service of documents and the taking of evidence have been extended to include Hong Kong.

5. In the eighth line of your draft teleletter, should "Legislation" read "Legalisation"? ERD lead in the FCO on mutual legal assistance matters and would probably be interested in seeing these papers before you send your teleletter.

E. Bousfield

NTCD CL535

270 4090

cc Miss Wilmshurst

Mr Harkin

Legal Advisers

HKD