TNAG-2342-FCO40-3406-Drug-trafficking-agreements-between-Hong-Kong-and-other-coun-1991 — Page 76

Ms Bourne

ERD

HKC385/1

RECEN

2 0 FEB 1991

Reference.

TOMBAM

HKC 385/1.

HONG KONG:

COUNCIL OF EUROPE CONVENTION ON CONFISCATION OF THE PROCEEDS OF CRIME

@

12

Please refer to your undated minute to Ms Brooks, Legal Advisers.

1.

As you know, Hong Kong are currently negotiating bilateral time-limited drugs trafficking agreements which will be superseded by 1997 by wider mutual Legal Assistance Agreements. The latter will be approved by the Chinese and thus able to continue in force after 1997.

2.

3.

I see no Hong Kong policy difficulty with switching from interim bilateral agreements to interim extension to Hong Kong of the European Convention. We would not need to seek Chinese approval since extension would lapse in 1997. But, as we did in the case of the bilateral agreements, we should inform them of our intention.

A decision will, however, depend on the legal points raised in David Week s' letter to Andrew Soper of 21 January, attached to your minute.

4.

вомере

PA Major (Ms)

Hong Kong Department WH305

270 2652

19 February 1991

cc: Ms Brooks, Legal Advisers

Mr P Vallance, C7 Home Office