CONFIDENTIAL
133345
MDLOAN 9324
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO PRIORITY PEKING
TELNO 458
OF 23143OZ APRIL 91
нисого/з
ф.
Типал
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG INFO PRIORITY WASHINGTON, TOKYO, CANBERRA, WELLINGTON, ACTOR
HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR
FROM BURNS, AUS
FUTURE OF ANGLO-TAIWAN TRADE COMMITTEE (ATTC): VISIT TO TAIWAN BY HMG OFFICIALS
1 AT OFFICIAL LEVEL MUCH THOUGHT HAS RECENTLY BEEN GIVEN TO MANAGING THE ATTC FOR THE FUTURE. THE ATTC IS, AS YOU KNOW, THE UK'S UNOFFICIAL TRADE PROMOTION BODY IN TAIWAN. THE TAIPEI OFFICE IS CURRENTLY STAFFED BY TWO EXPATRIATES: (A) THE DIRECTOR, A FORMER BUSINESSMAN WITH EXPERIENCE IN THE REGION AND (B) THE HEAD OF THE VISA HANDLING UNIT (VHU). THERE ARE 10 OR MORE LE STAFF AND A NUMBER OF OTHER SUPPORT STAFF.
THE ANGLO-TAIWAN EDUCATION CENTRE IS COLOCATED IN THE SAME BUILDING, STAFFED BY LOCALLY-ENGAGED BRITONS.
2. RECENT EXPERIENCE IN THE PROBLEMS OF RECRUITING STAFF FOR THIS COMPLEX OF OFFICES, IN MANAGING THE RESOURCES INVOLVED, AND IN RESPONDING TO PRESSURE TO INCREASE STAFF THERE, HAS PROMPTED THE FCO AND DTI AT OFFICIAL LEVEL TO CONCLUDE THAT THERE IS NO
ALTERNATIVE BUT TO FOLLOW THE US AND JAPANESE EXAMPLES AND TO
STAFF AND MANAGE THESE UNOFFICIAL OFFICES FOR OUR INTERNAL PURPOSES AS IF THEY WERE A MAINSTREAM DS MISSION. STAFF WOULD THEN BE POSTED TO TAIWAN AS TO A NORMAL POST, BUT FORMALLY THEY WOULD BE ON SECONDMENT TO A PRIVATE ORGANISATION, THE ATTC, WHILE THEY WERE THERE. THIS MIRRORS EXACTLY WHAT THE US AND JAPAN HAVE DONE SINCE FORMAL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WERE BROKEN WITH THE QUOTE ROC UNQUOTE. TAIWAN IS NOW SUCH A GROWING PLAYER IN THE ASIA PACIFIC THAT WE CAN NO LONGER HANDLE THE IMPORTANT UK INTERESTS THERE ON THE CURRENT AD HOC BASIS. WE NEED THE FLEXIBILITY OF STAFF MOBILITY AND THE CONTROL OF RESOURCES WHICH BRINGING THE ATTC UNDER THE FCO ADMINISTRATION'S UMBRELLA WOULD GIVE US. WE SHALL ALMOST CERTAINLY WANT TO PUT IN ONE CAND POSSIBLY TWO) ADDITIONAL EXPATRIATE STAFF FOR TRADE PROMOTION, TRADE POLICY AND INWARD INVESTMENT WORK. NEXT YEAR WE SHALL NEED TO APPOINT A NEW
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