GR 430
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 141231Z FEB 79
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
TELNO 154 OF 14 FEBRUARY
INFO PRIORITY WASHINGTON AND HONG KONG
HKK
BA
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FROM FED
PROTECTION OF BRITISH INTERESTS ON TAIWAN
1. THE AMERICANS HAVE INFORMED US FORMALLY THAT THEY WILL BE
UNABLE TO CONTINUE FORMAL REPRESENTATION OF BRITISH INTERESTS IN
TAIWAN AFTER 28 FEBRUARY AND HAVE ASKED US TO MAKE KNOWN OUR WISHES FOR THE DISPOSITION OF ANY BRITISH ASSETS HELD BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AFTER THAT DATE. THIS IS DISAPPOINTING, PARTICULARLY IN THE LIGHT OF WASHINGTON TELNO 5021 OF 21 DECEMBER 1973, BUT THE EMBASSY HAS EXPLAINED THAT THERE ARE COMPLICATIONS ARISING FROM THE FOREIGN AGENCY ACT OF 1938. THE US EMBASSY HAVE HITHERTO ACTED AS A POST OFFICE FOR PASSPORT MATTERS AND REGISTR- ATIONS OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS. ON THE FEW OCCASIONS WHEN IT HAS BEEN REQUIRED, THEY HAVE PROVIDED CONSULAR SERVICES. THEY HAVE ALSO KEPT AN EYE ON OUR FORMER CONSULATE BUILDING AND PAID THE CARETAKER STAFF, HOWEVER VISA WORK HAS BEEN HANDLED BY THE AIRLINES WHO
HAVE TAKEN APPLICATIONS DIRECT TO HONG KONG.
2.
VE NEED TO DECIDE UGRENTLY HOW THESE RESIDUAL BRITISH INTERESTS IN TAIWAN CAN BEST BE PROTECTED. OUR FIRST THOUGHT HAS BEEN TO
LOOK FOR OTHER POSSIBLE PROTECTING POWERS. BUT SOME OF THE MORE PROMISING POSSIBILITIES SEEM LIKELY TO FOLLOW THE AMERICANS IN
OPENING FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH PEKING AND THERE ARE
DISADVANTAGES OF VARIOUS SORTS IN APPROACHING THOSE WHO ARE LIKELY
TO REMAIN, E.G, ISRAEL, SOUTH AFRICA AND SOUTH KOREA. THE SOLUTION
WHICH WOULD PROBABLY SUIT US BEST WOULD BE AGREEMENT THAT THE
ANGLO/TAIWAN TRADE COMMITTEE SHOULD BE AUTHORISED TO ACT AS AN
INFORMAL CHANNEL IN THE SAME WAY THAT THE AMERICANS INTEND TO
USE THEIR INSTITUTE AND AS THE JAPANESE USE THEIR INTERCHANGE
ASSOCIATION.
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