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cc. Dominic Chilcott
ESD (1)
on iss Marsdently 24/
Mr Chilcott has checked with
Mr Mr Maris
PS/MN Meride and told the Hague intend pron de
TO TELELETTER FCO P/M Maude and told the Hague TELELETTER REF 014/4 that thr Marde does not
OF 211616Z MAY 90 to raise this. :. no
FROM
:
R P FLOWER
FOLLOWING FOR:
brief required.
a
Dankert's
MS R MARSDEN, HONG KONG DEPARTMENT, FCO
3
® pa je 24/5
(276)
HONG KONG: INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT
284
136721
MDTTAN 0333
We will need
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suitable brig fo
meeting
nin Mc Daude.
Reyond 22/0
1. FURTHER TO MY LETTER OF 10 MAY 1990, I CALLED ON MONIQUE FRANK ON 18 MAY AND ASKED HER ABOUT THE APPROACH MENTIONED BY MARCHIE SARVAAS.
2. AT FIRST, MRS FRANK WAS UNWILLING TO ADMIT THAT ANY SUCH IDEAS WERE UNDER CONSIDERATION. EVENTUALLY, HOWEVER, SHE CONFIRMED THAT PAPERS WERE BEING PREPARED AND THAT ONE OPTION WAS THAT THE NETHERLANDS COULD UNDERTAKE, ON A CONTINGENCY BASIS, TO ACCEPT HONG KONG RESIDENTS EMPLOYED IN KEY POSITIONS BY DUTCH COMPANIES. HOWEVER, SHE HERSELF FORESAW MAJOR DIFFICULTIES IN THIS: IT WOULD NOT BE EASY
FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO GIVE A COMMITMENT WHICH WOULD BIND ITSELF OR
ITS SUCCESSORS AS FAR AHEAD AS 1997 SEMI COLON AND THE NETHERLANDS ALREADY FACED DIFFICULTIES ENOUGH WITH WOULD BE IMMIGRANTS/ASYLUM SEEKERS WITHOUT ADDING TO THEIR NUMBER. IT WOULD, SHE THOUGHT, BE A POLITICAL QUESTION WHETHER THE DUTCH GOVERNMENT SCREWED UP ITS COURAGE TO OVERCOME THESE DIFFICULTIES OR TURNED DOWN OUR REQUEST FOR
HELP. IT SEEMED CLEAR THAT MRS FRANK WAS UNLIKELY TO BE ANY HELP TO US, THOUGH MARCHIE SARVAAS HAD TAKEN A SUBSTANTIALLY MORE HELPFUL ATTITUDE.
3. WE WILL OF COURSE CONTINUE TO MAKE ENQUIRIES FROM TIME TO TIME, AND TO ARGUE THE CASE FOR A FAVOURABLE DUTCH RESPONSE. YOU SHOULD HOWEVER KNOW THAT THE PRIVATE SECRETARY TO DANKERT, STATE SECRETARY IN THE M F A, WHO IS COMING TO LONDON FOR TALKS WITH MR MAUDE ON 30 MAY, ASKED THIS MORNING WHETHER MR MAUDE WOULD RAISE THE SUBJECT WITH DANKERT. AS I HAVE TOLD DOMINIC CHILCOTT, ECD(I), MR MAUDE WOULD NEED TO BE CAREFUL HOW HE DID SO, GIVEN ITS SENSITIVITY HERE SEMI COLON BUT THERE WOULD SEEM TO BE SOME ADVANTAGE IN HIS AT LEAST REGISTERING THAT WE STILL HOPED FOR SUPPORT FROM THE DUTCH.
SIGNED: R P FLOWER
YYYY
HD 3401 нко
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
18 JUN 1990
BERK OFFICER
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