TNAG-2183-FCO40-3120-Hong-Kong-nationality-international-support-1990 — Page 31

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 3310

OF 121039Z NOVEMBER 90

AND TO ROUTINE COPENHAGEN

HKD 340/1

RECEIVE

15 NOVTOP COPY

Q DIST?

DESK EFICE INDEA

PA

402

061122, MDLIAN 6078

HONG KONG: INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

1. WHEN THE DANISH FOREIGN MINISTER, MR ELLEMAN-JENSEN CALLED ON ME LAST WEEK HE SAID THAT THE DANISH GOVERNMENT HAD TAKEN A DECISION IN PRINCIPLE TO DO SOMETHING FOR EMPLOYEES OF DANISH COMPANIES IN HONG KONG. IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO ISSUE PASSPORTS, SO THEY WERE THINKING ON THE LINES OF GRANTING ENTRY PERMITS TO THE INDIVIDUALS CONCERNED, PROVIDING THAT THEY CONTINUED TO WORK FOR A DANISH COMPANY AND THE COMPANY UNDERTOOK TO FIND THEM A JOB IF THEY WENT TO DENMARK. HE ASKED WHETHER SUCH A SCHEME WOULD BE HELPFUL.

2. I SAID THAT WHAT THEY HAD IN MIND SEEMED TO BE SIMILAR TO SCHEMES BEING INTRODUCED BY OTHER EC COUNTRIES, SUCH AS FRANCE AND ITALY. HONG KONG PEOPLE WOULD IDEALLY PREFER TO HAVE A PASSPORT IF THEY COULD GET ONE. BUT I THOUGHT THAT SUCH A SCHEME WOULD GENERALLY HELP TO KEEP THOSE CONCERNED WORKING FOR DANISH FIRMS SO LONG AS THEY WERE CONFIDENT THAT THE GUARANTEES WOULD BE HONOURED. IT WOULD OBVIOUSLY HELP IF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES WERE USING THE SAME APPROACH.

3. WE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN ANY FURTHER INFORMATION WHICH COPENHAGEN CAN PROVIDE ON THE PROPOSED SCHEME.

WILSON

YYYY

MAIN

58

.HONG KONG AGREEMENT

.(RESTRICTED)

LIMITED

DISTRIBUTION

61

PUSD

RAD

PS/LORD CAITHNESS

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CONFIDENTIAL