RESTRICTED
143626
MDLIAN 8328
RESTRICTED
FM COPENHAGEN
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 253
OF 121515Z JUNE 91
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG
HKD 340/1
RECEIV
DrSk
INDE
EGÍSTRY
14 JUN 1991
RICER
PA
TOP COPY Q DIST?
MY TELNOS 155 AND 193: INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR HONG KONG: DANISH MEASURES
SUMMARY
1 DANISH PRIME MINISTER REPORTEDLY INTENDS TO GUARANTEE RESIDENCE
PERMITS FOR 100 KEY HONG KONG PERSONNEL.
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DETAIL
2. ACCORDING TO DANISH PRESS REPORTS, THE PRIME MINISTER (SPEAKING ON 10 JUNE AT A LUNCH FOR DANISH BUSINESSMEN IN HONG KONG) HAS EXPRESSED THE INTENTION OF GUARANTEEING RESIDENCE AND WORK PERMITS FOR UP TO 100 KEY HONG KONG PERSONNEL WORKING WITH DANISH COMPANIES. SCHLUTER'S STATEMENT, IF CORRECTLY REPORTED, GOES FURTHER THAT ANY MADE HITHERTO BY THE DANISH GOVERNMENT. IT HAS CAUSED SOME CONFUSION AMONG
POLITICIANS HERE AS THE ISSUE HAS NOT YET BEEN PUT TO THE POLITICAL
PARTIES BY THE MINORITY GOVERNMENT.
3. MFA AND MINISTRY OF JUSTICE OFFICIALS HAVE TOLD US THEY WISH TO
STUDY TRANSCRIPTS OF SCHLUTER'S STATEMENT ON HIS RETURN FROM HIS FAR EAST TOUR BEFORE CONSIDERING THE NEXT STEPS. THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE SAY THEIR MINISTER WILL CONSULT SCHLUTER ON THE LATTER'S RETURN. ENGELL HAD PLANNED TO DEFER ANY DECISION ON HONG KONG UNTIL THE WHOLE ISSUE OF IMMIGRATION HAD BEEN DISCUSSED WITH THE POLITICAL PARTIES DURING THE SUMMER (PARA 2 OF MY FIRST TUR REFERS). BUT SCHLUTER'S
APPARENT UNDERTAKING IN HONG KONG MAY OBLIGE HIM TO ACT SOONER.
COMMENT
4. RESPONDING TO PRESSURE FROM DANISH BUSINESSMEN IN HONG KONG, SCHLUTER HAS EVIDENTLY GONE A LOT FURTHER THAN HIS JUSTICE MINISTER WOULD HAVE WISHED. BY SAYING THAT THE DANISH CONSULATE GENERAL WOULD NOW BE INSTRUCTED TO DRAW UP A LIST OF NAMES, FOR EXAMPLE, HE HAS GIVEN THE IMPRESSION THAT THE SCHEME IS FURTHER ADVANCED THAN IS ACTUALLY THE CASE. WE WILL OF COURSE SEEK TO HOLD THE GOVERNMENT TO
SCHLUTER'S WORD.
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