TNAG-2179-FCO40-3116-Hong-Kong-nationality-international-support-1990 — Page 36

CONFIDENTIAL

UK COMMS ONLY

FM BRUSSELS

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 91

OF 231511Z MARCH 90

CONFIDENTIAL UK COMMS ONLY

131

116474

MDLIAN 8948

HID 24044 Ако

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

27 MAR 1990

DESK OFFICER

PA

REGISTRY

Action Taken

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG INDEX

YR TELNO 605 TO HONG KONG: INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR HONG KONG

1. DELHAUTE (CONSULAR AFFAIRS, BELGIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY) INFORMED US ON 23 MARCH THAT THE BELGIAN MINISTRY OF JUSTICE HAD JUST GIVEN

ITS FORMAL APPROVAL TO THE SCHEME OUTLINED IN MY TELNO 09. THE MINISTRIES CONCERNED WERE NOW DRAWING UP PLANS TO INFORM THE BELGIAN COMPANIES INVOLVED. DELHAUTE EXPECTED THIS TO HAPPEN IN SEVERAL WEEKS TIME AND UNDERTOOK TO INFORM US ONCE ACTION WAS TAKEN.

2.

WE NOTED THAT THE FOREIGN MINISTER HAD SAID IN REPLY TO A

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION ON 1 FEBRUARY THAT HE HAD DEVISED WITH THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE AN OUTLINE SCHEME UNDER WHICH A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF HONG KONG CITIZENS MIGHT BE ADMITTED TO BELGIUM AND ASKED

IF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT COULD REFER PUBLICLY TO THE BELGIAN

SCHEME. DELHAUTE ASKED THAT WE REFRAIN FROM DOING SO UNTIL HIS GOVERNMENT HAD FORMALLY INFORMED THE BELGIAN COMPANIES INVOLVED (PARA 1 ABOVE).

O'NEILL

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

57

DISTRIBUTION

60

.HONG KONG AGREEMENT

.(RESTRICTED)

LIMITED

HKD

HD/FED

RESEARCH D (FE)

PUSD

NEWS D

PS/MR MAUDE

PS/LORD BRABAZON

MR GILLMORE

MR MCLAREN

PAGE

1

CONFIDENTIAL UK COMMS ONLY