CONFIDENTIAL
213.4266
mr. Forstand. Pl. discuss.
Mr Masefield, FED
TAIWAN
Jim
148
1. When Mr Blaker had a drink with Mr Stephen Hastings MP on 7 August he met a Mr Cheng from Taiwan. Mr Cheng said he was now an independent businessman, but he used to be Head of the "Free Chinese Centre" in London, and was formerly a diplomat. Mr Hastings addressed him as "N S", presumably the initials of his other names.
2. Mr Cheng asked if the Anglo Taiwan Trade Committee in Taiwan might be given the same status as the Free Chinese Centre. For example, the Free Chinese Centre issues travel documents for Taiwan normally within 24 hours. It even issues multiple entry documents. On the other hand tourists or businessmen coming from Taiwan to Britain have to wait three to six weeks for a visa because it has to be obtained through a travel agency, via Hong Kong He wondered whether the ATTC might at least be able to vet the visa application first.
3. Mr Cheng said he thought it would be useful if a team were to go from Britain to Taiwan, particularly to explore the possibilities for promoting trade. The team might consist of one Conservative and one Labour Backbencher, an ex-FCO man, an ex Department of Trade man, and an interpreter. The question would arise of who would pay for such a trip: obviously it would be better that the Taiwan authorities should not do so. His idea seemed to be that the team could on its return spread the word around British business about how to improve our exports to Taiwan. He said that in his opinion British businessmen did not understand how to go about obtaining more orders from Taiwan. For example, British companies ought to have a corporate presence there. Taiwan's trade was rising fast and was expected to go up to $27 billion this year. Mr Cheng claimed that it is no longer true that one loses business with China if one does business with Taiwan.
4. Mr Hastings told Mr Blaker (when introducing him) that Mr Cheng had been largely instrumental in obtaining for GEC their current big export order for Taiwan.
5. I should be grateful for advice.
kolin A. Munos
13 August 1979
CA
Munro
PS/Mr Blaker
CC:
Mr Cortazzi
Mr Murray
HKGD
CONFIDENTIAL