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121704 MDLIAN 6471
UNCLASSIFIED
FM SOFIA
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELNO 269
OF 01142OZ JUNE 93
INFO ROUTINE BRITISH TRADE COMMISSION HONG KONG`
BULGARIA/HONG KONG
SUMMARY
1.
BULGARIANS SEEK ADVICE ON SETTING UP A CONSULATE GENERAL IN
HONG KONG.
DETAIL
2. DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER IKONOMOV SUMMONED ME ON 1 JUNE TO SEEK COOOPERATION IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BULGARIAN CONSULATE GENERAL IN HONG KONG. APPARENTLY PARALLEL REPRESENTATIONS ARE BEING MADE BY THE BULGARIAN EMBASSY IN LONDON. THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS, ACCORDING TO IKONOMOV, HAS DECIDED IN PRINCIPLE TO SET UP A POST IN HONG KONG, WITH TWO OR THREE BULGARIAN STAFF AND A FEW LOCALLY ENGAGED. THE POST'S MAIN FUNCTION WILL BE TRADE, BUT IT WILL NATURALLY ALSO HANDLE CONSULAR MATTERS. WHILE THE BULGARIANS ARE IN NO GREAT HURRY, THEY HOPE TO BE WELL AND TRULY ESTABLISHED, WITH A GOOD TRACK RECORD OF SOLID BUSINESS BEHIND THEM, COME 1997.
3.
THE BULGARIANS HAVE VERY LITTLE IDEA OF HOW TO GO ABOUT SETTING UP A POST IN A BRITISH COLONY. I SAID THAT I WAS SURE THAT A BULGARIAN PRESENCE IN HONG KONG WOULD BE WELCOME, AND THAT ADVICE ON PROCEDURE WOULD BE FORTHCOMING, PRESUMABLY IN LONDON. I ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE BULGARIANS SHOULD CONSULT THE HUNGARIANS AND POLES WHO, I BELIEVE, ALREADY HAVE CONSULAR POSTS IN HONG KONG.
THOMAS
YYYY
RE
HID 344/1908/5
02 JUN 1993
1
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