RESTRICTED
FM COPENHAGEN
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 155
OF 16132OZ APRIL 91
RESTRICTED
(32)
110440
MDLIAN 3740
TOP COPY
Q
HKD340
CEN
JES
KD 340/10 DIST?
*19 APR 1991
FICER
PA
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG
OUR TELNO 399 OF 1990: INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR HONG KONG: DANISH MEASURES
SUMMARY
1.
MINISTER FOR JUSTICE RELUCANT TO CONSIDER INCENTIVE MEASURES FOR HONG KONG CITIZENS UNTIL FULL DISCUSSION OF IMMIGRATION ISSUES BY THE POLITICAL PARTIES IN SUMMER. SUGGEST HOME SECRETARY MIGHT RAISE THE SUBJECT WITH ENGELL NEXT WEEK.
DETAIL
2. SINCE WE LAST REPORTED (TUR) ON POSSIBLE DANISH MEASURES TO GIVE HONG KONG CITIZENS THE INCENTIVE TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO PRESS THE DANES FOR PROGRESS. THE MFA ARE SYMPATHETIC TO THESE REPRESENTATIONS BUT MINISTRY OF JUSTICE OFFICIALS HAVE TOLD US THAT THE MINISTER FOR JUSTICE SEES THE HONG KONG ISSUE AS PART OF A MUCH WIDER RANGE OF IMMIGRATION ISSUES WHICH WILL BE THE SUBJECT OF DISCUSSION DURING THE SUMMER WHEN DANISH POLITICAL PARTIES WILL CONSIDER PROPOSALS TO TIGHTEN THE ALIENS ACT: AND THAT MEANWHILE HE IS NOT PREPARED TO TAKE A DECISION ON THE HONG KONG ISSUE.
COMMENT
{
3 =
IMMIGRATION IS CURRENTLY A POLITICALLY SENSITIVE ISSUE HERE LARGELY BECAUSE OF THE TAMIL CASE (MY LETTER OF 12 FEBRUARY TO MISS MACGLASHAN, WED). NEVERTHELESS, I SUGGEST THAT TO KEEP UP THE PRESSURE ON THE DANES, THE HOME SECRETARY MIGHT RAISE THE HONG KONG ISSUE WHEN HE SEES ENGELL NEXT WEEK.
WILLIAMS
YYYY
!
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