CONFIDENTIAL
165542
MOLIAN 2749
CONFIDENTIAL
FM STOCKHOLM
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 215
OF 06142OZ APRIL 90
INFO ROUTINE OSLO, COPENHAGEN, HONG KONG
701
1430
36071
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
INUCA
02 MAY 1990
- CER
YOUR TELNO 245 TO CANBERRA: HONG KONG: INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT
SUMMARY
TIONAL
1. SWEDES WILL NOT LEGISLATE TO GIVE HONG KONG CHINESE SWEDISH CITIZENSHIP. EXISTING LAW ENABLES THEM TO PROTECT HK EMPLOYEES OF SWEDISH FIRMS. BUT THE SWEDES WISH TO AVOID PUBLICITY FOR THE MOMENT AT LEAST AND CANNOT OFFER US PUBLIC SUPPORT NOW.
DETAIL
2. POLITICAL COUNSELLOR SPOKE TO THE PERMANENT SECRETARY AT THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR, TO FOLLOW UP MY DEMARCHE ON 23 MARCH (MY TELNO 185 REFERS). LEMPERT SAID THAT THERE WAS GREAT INTEREST IN THIS IN SWEDEN WITH PRESSURE COMING FROM SWEDISH COMPANIES WITH INTERESTS BOTH IN CHINA AND HONG KONG. AS FORESHADOWED IN MY TELNO 5, THE AUTHORITIES HAD HOWEVER, SOUGHT TO ACHIEVE A SOLUTION WITHOUT CHANGES IN LAWS OR REGULATIONS.
3. LEMPERT SAID THAT THE SWEDISH ALIENS ACT PROVIDED FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS WORKING FOR SWEDISH COMPANIES ABROAD TO ENTER SWEDEN ON SHORT-TERM ENTRY PERMITS WHICH THEY COULD SUBSEQUENTLY CONVERT TO PERMANENT RESIDENCE PERMITS. THESE COULD BE OBTAINED BY APPLICATION, WITH THE INFERENCE THAT THEY WOULD PROBABLY BE GRANTED READILY IF SUPPORTED BY THE EMPLOYER. HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THERE WAS A DEMAND FOR A WIDENING OF THE PROVISIONS TO INCLUDE CITIZENSHIP BUT SAID THAT NO LEGISLATION TO ALLOW THIS WAS UNDER CONSIDERATION.
4. THE SWEDES DO NOT YET WISH TO DRAW PUBLIC ATTENTION TO THIS PROCESS FOR FEAR OF ABUSE, GIVEN THEIR CURRENT VERY SERIOUS PROBLEMS OVER IMMIGRATION. THEY CANNOT, THEREFORE, AGREE AT THE MOMENT TO BE LISTED AMONG THOSE COUNTRIES WHO ARE PLEDGING THEIR SUPPORT FOR OUR INITIATIVE. THIS IS HOWEVER, STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION: LEMPERT WILL LET US HAVE THEIR FINAL RESPONSE ON THIS IN DUE COURSE.
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