TNAG-2955-FCO40-4232-Extradition-cases-from-the-UK-and-France-to-Hong-Kong-Lorrai-1993 — Page 25

RESTRICTED

156140

MDHIAN 9

MINISTRY.

6.

SEPARATELY POINAS (HEAD OF THE COUNTER TERRORIST UNIT IN THE INTERIOR MINISTRY) RANG US TO SAY THAT HE HAD BEEN CHARGED WITH ORGAINISING SURVEILLANCE. BUT HE ADMITTED THAT THIS HAD NOT YET STARTED.

COMMENT

7. IT BEARS REPEATING THAT AN IMPORTANT PRECEDENT HAS NOW BEEN SET. UP UNTIL NOW THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN ABLE TO OVERTURN A FRENCH COURT'S DECISION TO EXTRADITE, WITHOUT GIVING ITS REASONS. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THIS CASE A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT APPEALED

AGAINST A DECISION OF THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT NOT TO ALLOW

EXTRADITION. FRENCH OFFICIALS HAVE TOLD US THAT THE FLOOD GATES MAY OPEN. BUT IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN HOW OFTEN THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE TO FACE APPEALS FROM FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS.

8.

POINAS' ADMISSION MEANS THAT IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SANIMAN HAS

ALREADY FLED FRANCE. HE HAS HAD A WEEK SINCE THE PUBLIC SESSION OF THE CONSEIL D'ETAT WHICH LEANT IN OUR FAVOUR (PARIS TELNO 1006).

SINCE THEN WE HAVE PRESSED THE INTERIOR MINISTRY DAILY TO TAKE

THESE MEASURES.

YOUNG

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

40

HKD

WED

NTCD

LEGAL ADVISERS

ADDITIONAL

2

DISTRIBUTION

42

HOMS//SIR C MALLABY NEWS D

CONSULAR D

INFO D

AGC//MR HILL, LSLO

WOOLER,

(ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE)

~~~~

PAGE 2 RESTRICTED