RESTRICTED
FM STOCKHOLM
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELNO 465
OF 0713OOZ SEPTEMBER 90
INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG
RESTRICTED
TOP COPY Q DIST?
340
170355
MDLIAN 9032
HKD 340/1
RECEIVER IN REGISTRY 10 SEP 1990
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
REGISTRY
:
PA
Action Isker.
YOUR TELNO 252 AND OUR TELNO 215 HONG KONG:
INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT
SUMMARY
1. SWEDISH POLICY REMAINS AS IN OUR TUR. IT IS UNLIKELY TO CHANGE.
DETAIL
2. MEMBERS OF MR MAUDE'S PARTY MAY RECALL THAT WE HAD
AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE FROM THE MFA CONFIRMING THAT THE SWEDISH GOVERNMENT'S POSITION REMAINED THE SAME AS THAT DESCRIBED BY THE PERMANENT SECRETARY AT THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR TO THE POLITICAL COUNSELLOR ON 6 APRIL COUR TUR). THE MFA TODAY ONCE AGAIN CONFIRMED THAT POSITION. THEY TOLD US FURTHER, HOWEVER, THAT THROUGH THE RELEVANT SWEDISH COMPANIES IN HONG KONG, THEY HAD ACTUALLY INFORMED THOSE HONG KONG CITIZENS CONCERNED THAT THEY HAD THIS ROUTE OPEN TO THEM. BUT THESE ARRANGMENTS ONLY APPLIED TO PEOPLE WHO REMAINED CONTINUALLY EMPLOYED BY THE SAME SWEDISH COMPANY, WHICH, OF COURSE, LIMITED THE NUMBER OF HONG KONG CITIZENS THAT SWEDEN WOULD IN PRACTICE ABSORB. THE MFA HAVE GIVEN US A BALLPARK FIGURE OF 200 AS THE MAXIMUM.
COMMENT
3. AS REPORTED IN OUR TUR THE SWEDES HAVE NO (NO) PLANS TO MODIFY THEIR EXISTING LAW. THEY ARE CURRENTLY UNDER GREAT PRESSURE ON THE IMMIGRATION FRONT AND WISH VERY MUCH TO KEEP THIS ARRANGEMENT OUT OF THE PUBLIC EYE. THIS IS CERTAINLY THE REASON WHY THEY HAVE NOT SPOKEN TO US ABOUT IT AGAIN CLAST SENTENCE OF TUR). WE JUDGE IT MOST UNLIKELY THAT THEY WILL BE PREPARED TO BE COUNTED OPENLY AMONG THE COUNTRIES PLEDGING SUPPORT FOR OUR
INITIATIVE.
AUSTIN
YYYY
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