TNAG-2178-FCO40-3115-Hong-Kong-nationality-international-support-1990 — Page 62

B.

021713

CONFIDENTIAL

MDLIAN 0800

CONFIDENTIAL

FM COPENHAGEN

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 15

OF 161635Z JANUARY 90

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG

YOUR TELNO 87 TO WASHINGTON: HONG KONG : INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

-

1 AS THE DANISH FOREIGN MINISTER HAS NOT YET RETURNED TO HIS OFFICE AFTER HIS RECENT OPERATION, I CALLED TODAY (16 JANUARY) ON OTTO MOELLER, SENIOR PERMANENT SECRETARY IN THE MINISTRY. I EMPHASISED THE IMPORTANCE MINISTERS ATTACHED TO THIS QUESTION AND NOTED THAT DENMARK HAD CONCRETE INTERESTS IN HONG KONG WHICH COULD BE AT RISK IF CONFIDENCE WERE NOT BOLSTERED. I TOOK MOELLER THROUGH YOUR STATEMENT OF 20 DECEMBER DRAWING ATTENTION TO PARAGRAPH 12. I MENTIONED THE

DECISION OF FRANCE TO AWARD FRENCH PASSPORTS TO 80 HONG KONG

PERSONNEL.

2. MOELLER, WHO WAS AWARE OF THE ACTION WE HAVE ALREADY TAKEN AT OTHER LEVELS, UNDERTOOK TO REPORT MY REPRESENTATIONS TO THE FOREIGN MINISTER. THE ISSUES WERE VERY DIFFICULT THOUGH GUARANTEES OF RESIDENCE MIGHT BE A LESS DIFFICULT PROPOSITION THAN THE OFFER OF DANISH CITIZENSHIP. HE PROMISED TO ENCOURAGE THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

TO CONSIDER THE MATTER IN AS POSITIVE A LIGHT AS POSSIBLE.

3. WE SHALL BE KEEPING UP THE PRESSURE AND I SHALL CALL SHORTLY ON

THE PERMANENT SECRETARY IN THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE. I AM ALSO CONTINUING TO LIASE DISCREETLY WITH THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE EAST

ASIATIC COMPANY.

WILLIAMS

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

106

.HONG KONG AGREEMENT

.(RESTRICTED)

LIMITED

DISTRIBUTION

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