TNAG-2178-FCO40-3115-Hong-Kong-nationality-international-support-1990 — Page 198

RESTRICTED

FM ATHENS

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 007

OF 091155Z JANUARY 90

RESTRICTED

HIGH 340/1 Ако

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

24 FEB 1990

DESK OFFICER INDEX

PA

REGISTRY

176165 MDLIAN 8902

Action Taken PY a Diet?

INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG

(788 89/HKP 340/8

YOUR TELNO 2364 TO WASHINGTON

1.

: HONG KONG :

INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

ACTION TAKEN WITH THE MFA, IN WRITING ON 22 DECEMBER AND ORALLY ON 8 JANUARY (WHEN KEY OFFICIALS RETURNED FROM CHRISTMAS LEAVE). WE EXPLAINED THE BACKGROUND TO THE PROBLEM AND STRESSED THE NEED FOR AN INTERNATIONAL EFFORT TO ALLEVIATE THE CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE IN HONG

KONG.

2-

THE MFA UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ISSUE AND THE DIRECT RELEVANCE FOR OUR EUROPEAN PARTNERS (PARA 4 OF TUR). THEY POINT OUT THAT GREECE'S LINKS WITH HONG KONG ARE NOT STRONG. THE GREEK COMMUNITY THERE IS SMALL, AND GREECE DOES NOT HAVE EVEN A CAREER CONSUL. NOR ARE GREEK COMMERCIAL INTERESTS EXTENSIVE, ALTHOUGH

THERE ARE SHIPPING LINKS.

3.

PRESSED ON HOW GREECE COULD HELP, THE MFA HAVE SAID THAT THE GRANTING OF GREEK NATIONALITY TO HONG KONG CHINESE WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT INDEED, GIVEN THE REQUIREMENT TO DEMONSTRATE SOME FAMILY LINK WITH GREECE. IT MIGHT HOWEVER BE POSSIBLE FOR SOME CHINESE EMPLOYEES OF GREEK FIRMS TO BE GIVEN A GUARANTEE OF RIGHT OF RESIDENCE IN GREECE. GREEK OFFICIALS WILL CONSIDER THIS FURTHER, AND SAMARAS WILL BE BRIEFED TO RESPOND TO HONG KONG POINTS PUT BY MR

MAUDE DURING HIS VISIT HERE ON 18 JANUARY.

MIERS

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104

.HONG KONG AGREEMENT

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PUSD

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