TNAG-2353-FCO40-3423-Visits-by-Lord-Caithness--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and--1991 — Page 12

LUNIIULITIAL

NOTE 4

CONSULAR MASTERS

1.

Thailand is currently the only country among the four

with which we have consula: relations.

GOVERMENT HOUSE HONG KONG.

2.

There is an ICAC investigation into an allegation of acceptance of advantage by a locally employed clerk in the Thai Consulate General. She is alleged to have accepted a bribe of HK$ 200 to convert a single entry visa to double entry. There is reason to believe this is not the only $200 to have charged

hands. The Thais were asked to waive consular immunity and

bave declined.

3.

The Thais have set up their own internal disciplinary

committee and have interviewed two witnesses. Infortunately

the actual complainant has refused to be identified or interviewed, and the ICAC has an obligation in law and practice

to protect complainants.

4.

It is therefore unlikely that the Thai's internal disciplinary committee will come to anything as the evidence of

the first two witnesses is hearsay. If this happens we will simply declare the person in question as no longer acceptable as a member of consular staff vide Article 23 of the VCCR. (We

have just declared an employee at the Indonesian Consulate

General unacceptable on the basis of similar, albeit more

serious misbehaviour.}

CONFIDENTIAL

TUE 31 DEC 91 03:12

PG.11