TNAG-2387-FCO40-3469-Extradition-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-case-of-Lorrain-Esme-Os-1991 — Page 170

DIL

ET MON

From the Private Secretary

10 DOWNING STREET

LONDON SWIA 2AA

Mr. Guy 239/2

29 January 1991

Dear Paul,

Thank you for your letter of 29 January covering a draft reply from the Prime Minister to the Malaysian Prime Minister about Lorraine Osman.

I am not sure this quites meets the case. Dr. Mahathir raised other aspects of the case of Mr Osman with the Prime Minister when they met on 19 December and was promised a reply (I am afraid the record of that meeting was not copied directly to the Home Office). He subsequently wrote to the Prime Minister on 28 December. I think we need now to reply both to the points he raised in discussion as well as to the letter. We also need to be rather more forthcoming about our actions and the reasons for them. I found the draft enclosed with your letter a bit off- hand, bearing in mind it is to the Prime Minister of a country which is of substantial importance to us, who clearly attaches particular importance to the handling of this case. What we can. actually do is, of course, constrained by the law. But it is possible to explain ourselves in a more elegant and forthcoming way.

I think the Prime Minister would be grateful if your Secretary of State could take a personal interest in the handling of the matter and could supervise the preparation of a reply.

I am copying this letter to Richard Gozney in the Foreign and Commonwealth office.

Paul Pugh, Esq., Home Office.

mar

Parien

Charles Powell

PRIVATI BORETU