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CALL ON MR MAUDE BY SIR JAMES SPICER: 6 SEPTEMBER
BACKGROUND NOTE ON TAIWAN
1. Unofficial links between Britain and Taiwan have flourished over
the last year or so, particularly in the commercial and cultural
fields.
2. In the past two years, UK-Taiwan trade has increased
significantly:
1987 UK Imports £1,006.3m
1988 UK Imports £1,150m
1987 UK Exports £292.3m
1988 UK Exports £356m
Although we still have a large trade deficit with Taiwan, UK exports
are now increasing faster than imports and between 1986 and 1988
Taiwan moved from 43rd to 33rd place in the UK export league table.
3. In recognition of the degree of importance we attach to our
commercial relations with Taiwan, the Anglo-Taiwan Trade Committee
(ATTC, the unofficial UK trade promotion office in Taipei) has
recently moved into new, larger offices, has taken on extra staff
and is now able to process Taiwanese applications for UK visas.
4. Previously visa applications were sent to Hong Kong and took
around 10 days to process. The ATTC's visa-handling unit, which has been open since 1 June, provides a more convenient and much faster
service (by referring applications directly to the FCO's Migration
and Visa Department for authorization). 99% of applications are
processed within 24 hours. 4,737 visas were processed in the first
month after opening and a record 638 processed on one day alone.
This improved service should encourage more Taiwanese businessmen to
visit the UK.
5. The Anglo-Taiwan Education Centre opened for business on 1 April
in premises adjacent to the new ATTC offices. This private sector initiative, which we actively support, has received substantial
financial backing from UK universities and companies and aims to encourage more Taiwanese students to come to UK universities and
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