HKA 122/1
28 May 1993
09 JUN 1993
DTI/OT2
Ann Morrison
Sanctions Unit
K654
66-74 Victoria Street
London
REGISTRY
dion Taken
TRY
Foreign & Commonwealth
Office
London SWIA 2AH
Telephone: 071-
Dear
ms Morvion
HONG KONG: UNITED NATIONS SANCTIONS
Our regular contact in the Political Advisers Office of the Hong Kong Government, Ms Annette Lee, has asked us to assist her in obtaining copies of the OFAC lists requested in the enclosed memo from the Secretary for Security dated 27 May. UND say that they do not hold these lists and would have to obtain copies from Washington. However, as I am aware that Sanctions Unit receive copies of OFAC lists, I have spoken to Sandra Roberts and Coralie Francis and they have kindly agreed to fax the lists direct to Ms Lee or to let me know if they do not have copies of the lists in question. It is worth mentioning that these are the only lists Hong Kong are aware of, so if there are later more up-to-date lists it would be helpful if these could be faxed to Ms Lee as well.
My purpose in writing is to ask you to send a note to Ms Lee outlining DTI's experience with OFAC lists. You will see from the The Secretary for Security 's memo that the Hong Kong Government intend to use them to run certain checks. I think it is important to explain that the OFAC lists have no force in UK law and that there is a danger that the Hong Kong Government could be opening itself up to compensation claims if they were to use OFAC blacklists to take punitive action against companies or individuals.
Ms Lee telephoned this morning to check that we had received her fax and were taking action on it. I took the opportunity to sound a note of warning on OFAC lists. When I explained that the UK did not use OFAC lists to identify "connected persons" in the UK, she requested a note explaining how the UK did identify them. I would be grateful if you could also address this
mor.let.ADM
SLM
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