TNAG-2627-FCO40-3818-Classified-communication-facilities-in-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 43

Mr Seaton

FED

WH 236

RESTRICTED

, ни

Reference.

Jahon Dr. Hankinn Jelapan

I beliew you

и

13

3

neer clecelin

with this wobject

MOVEMENT OF MATERIAL BETWEEN BTC HONG KONG AND ATTC, TAIPEI

1.

In para of BTC Hong Kong tel No 108 the Senior Trade Commissioner suggests that a member of the BTC Hong Kong staff could act as casual courier for classified material when visiting Taipei. I must advise against this course of action.

2. Article 27 of the VCDR (which provides the basis in international law for the inviolability of diplomatic bags) refers to communications passed at diplomatic level (ie between a head of mission, to whom bags are addressed, and the home government). In the absence of diplomatic or consular relations with the Taiwan authorities there is no way in which dipolomatic bags addressed to the Anglo Taiwan Trade Committee, or named officers based there, could be granted protection.

N J Paget

Information Systems Division (Services)

15 April 1992

cc: Mr Furness, HKD, WH 303

Mr Williams Security Dept 4M 504 Mr Wallis, Protocol Dept OAB G/53

HKD 196/1

CODE 18-77

RESTRICTED

QB: 28

}