CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 2199
OF 19193OZ NOVEMBER 90
Pa
HKB 400
TC
INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG PEKING, WARSAW
(329)
107032
MDHOAN 1836
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM PAUL, HKD
HONG KONG/POLAND: REQUEST FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF POLISH CONSULATE
GENERAL
1.
THE COUNSELLOR AT THE POLISH EMBASSY CALLED ON BURNS ON
16 NOVEMBER TO DISCUSS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CONSULATE GENERAL
IN HONG KONG.
2. SPEAKING ON INSTRUCTIONS MATUSZEWSKI SAID THAT THE POLISH GOVERNMENT HOPED TO ESTABLISH A CONSULATE IN HONG KONG AT THE BEGINNING OF 1991. HE CITED THE FOLLOWING REASONS FOR THIS
REQUEST:
POLAND'S GOOD ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH HONG KONG:
- INCREASING BILATERAL TRADE (CURRENTLY US DOLLARS 30 MILLION):
- SIGNS OF INTEREST BY HONG KONG BUSINESSMEN IN INVESTING IN
POLAND: AND
INDICATIONS THAT HONG KONG RESIDENTS WERE INTERESTED IN
SETTLING IN POLAND.
MATUSZEWSKI SAID THAT HIS GOVERNMENT WISHED TO ENCOURAGE THESE DEVELOPMENTS AND THOUGHT THAT THE BEST WAY TO DO SO WOULD BE TO ESTABLISH A CONSULATE GENERAL. IT WAS ENVISAGED THAT THE CONSULATE WOULD BE STAFFED BY THREE OR FOUR OFFICIALS WHO WOULD
COVER BOTH CONSULAR AND COMMERCIAL MATTERS.
3. BURNS SAID THAT HE WOULD PASS ON THIS REQUEST TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. BUT HE POINTED OUT THAT IT MIGHT BE EASIER TO CONSIDER A TRADE OFFICE GIVEN THE SPECIAL SENSITIVITIES
ASSOCIATED WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CONSULATE IN HONG KONG. HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT OUR AIM WAS TO ANCHOR PEOPLE IN HONG
KONG NOT TO ENCOURAGE EMIGRATION.
4. MR MATUSZEWSKI SAID THAT HIS INSTRUCTIONS REFERRED ONLY TO A CONSULATE. BUT HE AGREED TO DRAW HIS GOVERNMENT'S ATTENTION TO
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