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CONFIDENTIAL
In Whitney 39
162067 MDHIAN 2134
CONFIDENTIAL
FM THE HAGUE
HKB 027/5
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG RECEIVED IN DEGISTRY
TELNO 1
OF 180653Z AUGUST 93
AND TO IMMEDIATE FCO
INFO IMMEDIATE BRUSSELS
INFO ROUTINE BONN, PARIS
20 A 1993
REGISTRY
PA
faker
TOP COPY Q DIST?
FCO PLEASE PASS TO YAXLEY
BRUSSELS PLEASE PASS TO WILLIAMSON
HONG KONG TELNOS 1202 AND 1203: GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO EUROPE: 14-19 NOVEMBER 1993
1.
THE MFA HAVE TOLD US THAT PRIME MINISTER LUBBERS WILL NOW BE UNABLE TO SEE THE GOVERNOR. HE WILL BE BUSY ON BOTH DAYS WITH THE BUDGET DEBATE IN THE FIRST CHAMBER OF THE DUTCH PARLIAMENT. THE MFA HAVE ASKED US TO CONVEY LUBBERS' APOLOGIES TO THE GOVERNOR: THE PARLIAMENTARY SCHEDULE HAD NOT BEEN ARRANGED WHEN THE GOVERNOR'S CALL WAS SET UP AND LUBBERS WOULD NOW BE FULLY OCCUPIED WITH THE DEBATE ON BOTH DAYS. THE MFA HAD ATTEMPTED TO PURSUE ALTERNATIVE TIMINGS WITH LUBBERS' OFFICE, BUT TO NO AVAIL.
2.
THE GOVERNOR'S CALLS ON THE QUEEN AND THE FOREIGN MINISTER WILL NOT (NOT) BE AFFECTED. THE ECONOMIC AFFAIRS MINISTER, ANDRIESSEN, MAY HAVE TO ATTEND SOME OF THE BUDGET DEBATE, BUT THE GOVERNOR'S CALL ON HIM REMAINS FIRMLY IN HIS DIARY AT THIS STAGE.
COMMENT
3.
THIS IS UNFORTUNATE (THOUGH IT DOES NOT AFFECT THE REST OF THE GOVERNOR'S PROGRAMME) AND LUBBERS' DECISION SEEMS FINAL. IF THE GOVERNOR HAS SUBSTANTIVE BUSINESS TO TRANSACT WITH LUBBERS IN PERSON WE CAN TRY APPLYING PRESSURE IN THE HOPE OF EG, A BREAKFAST MEETING ON 17 NOVEMBER, BUT WE CANNOT HOLD OUT MUCH HOPE OF SUCCESS.
FLOWER
PAGE 1 CONFIDENTIAL
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