TNAG-2656-FCO40-3849-Extradition-to-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 6

CONFIDENTIAL

HKA 384/1

CONFIDENTIAL

FM PARIS

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 131

OF 141744Z FEBRUARY 92

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

3

HONG KONG TELNO 433: DR RAIS BIN SANIMAN

1.

pets

By.R

Mr. Martin

ви

Noted

10/st (4)

weeks 10/341

116300

MDHIAN 3134

pe Manen

9 Honch Noted AM 17/2

приме

1/

TUR COINCIDED WITH THE RELEVANT DEPARTMENT OF THE QUAI COMING BACK TO US WITH AN INTERIM REPORT ON THIS CASE. IT WAS ORAL, NOT WRITTEN AS FORSHADOWED IN MY TELNO 70. THEY HAVE INFORMED US THAT THE COURT AT VERSAILLES RULED THAT CERTAIN OF THE CHARGES AGAINST SANIMAN WERE VALID, AND CERTAIN NOT. IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO INDICATE TO US AT THIS STAGE WHICH CHARGES FELL INTO WHICH CATEGORY. THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE HAVE THE DOSSIER, AND HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF WHETHER THE CHARGES ON WHICH THE COURT HAS GIVEN ITS AVIS FAVORABLE PROVIDE A VALID BASIS FOR EXTRADITION UNDER THE RELEVANT AGREEMENT. THEY HOPED THAT THIS WORK WOULD BE FINISHED BY EARLY MARCH. THE QUAI WILL TELEPHONE US AS SOON AS THE RESULT IS KNOWN, AND FOLLOW THIS UP WITH A FORMAL NOTE. IF THE RESULT GOES IN HONG KONG'S FAVOUR, THE TWO SIDES WILL THEN DISCUSS PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR SANIMAN'S HAND-OVER.

2.

SPEAKING STRICTLY PERSONALLY, MOREAU (SOUS-DIRECTEUR RESPONSIBLE FOR EXTRADITION MATTERS) SAID THAT THERE WAS SYMPATHY FOR THE BRITISH/HONG KONG CASE AT THE QUAI AND IN THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE AND THAT OUR REPRESENTATIONS HAD BEEN FULLY UNDERSTOOD. HE WAS GUARDEDLY OPTIMISTIC THAT THINGS WOULD COME OUT IN OUR FAVOUR, BUT STRESSED THAT SUCH MATTERS WERE NEVER OVER UNTIL THE FINAL PAPER WAS SIGNED AND SEALED.

FERGUSSON

YYYY

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CONFIDENTIAL