TNAG-2178-FCO40-3115-Hong-Kong-nationality-international-support-1990 — Page 40

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AMBASSADOR'S CALL ON DUMAS, 2 FEBRUARY 1990

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O 5 MAR 1990

DESK OFFICEH

INDEX

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REGISTRY

Action Taker.

Secretary of State's Visit to Washington: EC/US; Hong Kong and Boat People

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1. The Ambassador discussed with M Dumas the Secretary of State's visit to Washington on 29-30 January. The Ambassador said that the Secretary of State had taken the opportunity of his visit to examine US views on developing relations between the US and the EC. The Ambassador said that Baker had explained to the Secretary of State that the US were not pushing the idea of a formal US/EC treaty but were interested in reinforcing contacts with the EC; Britain felt that such contacts were very important. M Dumas said that he did not think British and French views diverged on this question, he certainly thought that it was wise to avoid a formal treaty.

2. The Ambassador said that the Secretary of State had had the opportunity while in Washington to discuss the issues of Hong Kong and the Boat People about which he had recently spoken to the Quai Secretary General. We were grateful for the line which the French had taken in Geneva. We were seeking to encourage voluntary repatriation. Our future action depended on the success of that and on the extent of any new wave of migration. M Dumas confirmed that he would be visiting Hanoi on his way to Jakarta, after the President's visits to Pakistan and Bangladesh later in February. Hong Kong, M Dumas said that he understood the object of the British offer of passports to Hong Kong residents, to encourage them to remain in Hong Kong.

The Ambassador said that he understood that the French were in the process of examining the possibility of offering French passports to employees of French companies in Hong Kong. M Dumas confirmed that they were.

On

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Ewen Fergusson