TNAG-2654-FCO40-3847-Extradition-cases-from-the-UK-and-France-to-Hong-Kong-Lorrai-1992 — Page 57

E FABIS

THU 01 OCT 92 15:44.

Matthew Ryecrofr. PARIS

6317

CONFIDENTIAL

DE 18-77

NOTE FOR THE RECORD

Cc:

Mr William Ehrman,

Hong Kong Government

Mr Ricketts, HKD, FCO

Miss Brooks, Legal Advisers, FCO

Reference..

PG 02...

103

HKD 384/1

Send 2/10 cc our Parler,

Legal Advisers

Sc spoke.

ü 2/10

Mr Mónis

QB

M

42show 2/10

Woodrow Seems ok

SANIMAN EXTRADITION CASE

1. Over lunch today, I discussed the Saniman case with Mr Graham Harris (Barrister and officer of the HKG), Mme Masse-Dessen, Prof. Cohen, and Me. Bertollas of clifford Chance. The following summarises the conversation:

(a) I said that the British and Hong Kong Governments

were both clear that we should bring the Saniman extradition case to the Conseil d'Etat;

(b)

(c)

(d)

2/10

I summarised my conversation with M. Guitton of M. Keijman's cabinet yesterday (see separate note for the record);

Mme Masse-Dessen said that she had been contacted by Mme Larsabal of the Ministry of Justice on a personal and informal basis (please protect carefully). The latter had asked her if the British Government was serious in its intention to seize the Conseil d'Etat. Mme Masse-Dessen (on the basis of my telephone call to her on 18 September) had said that it was. Mme Larsabal had then asked for a fortnight's pause before the initial approach was made to the Conseil d'Etat. She told Mme Masse-Dessen that the official level advice (which was unchanged) was now with the cabinet, and that a decision was awaited;

Mme Masse-Dessen now requires a written request for her to put up the first stage note to the Conseil d'Etat. Mr Harris agreed to discuss urgently with the HKG and with FCO Legal Advisers in London (through HKD) who should make the formal request to Mme Masse-Dessen, and in what terms. The letter should also specify who Mme Masse-Dessen would say she was representing in putting forward the case to the Conseil d'Etat. The discussion in Hong Kong and

CONFIDENTIAL