CONFIDENTIAL
MDL
133345
9324 ›
DIRECTOR.
3. A SUBMISSION TO MINISTERS IS IN PREPARATION. AN IMPORTANT STEP WILL BE FOR A SMALL TEAM OF FCO/DTI OFFICIALS TO VISIT TAIWAN TO CHECK THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND, TO LIAISE WITH THE US AND JAPANESE UNOFFICIAL OFFICES, THE OFFICES OF CERTAIN OTHER FRIENDLY COUNTRIES (COMMONWEALTH AND EC), TO MEET THE LOCAL BRITISH COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND TO INSPECT THE CURRENT ATTC PREMISES AND CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION POSSIBILITIES FOR AN EXPANDED OPERATION.
4.
WE HAVE DECIDED THAT THE TEAM SHOULD BE MADE UP OF HUGH DAVIES, FED AND, IF POSSIBLE, DAVID LOVE, OT2, DTI. Α POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY WOULD BE TO TAG THIS ONTO THE VISIT TO TAIWAN PLANNED FOR MID-JUNE BY SIR DEREK HORNBY, CHAIRMAN, BOTB. LOVE IS IN ANY CASE TO ACCOMPANY HORNBY. SUBJECT TO LOVE'S VIEWS (CURRENTLY IN PEKING FOR COMMERCIAL OFFICERS' CONFERENCE), DAVIES MIGHT ALSO ATTACH HIMSELF OSTENSIBLY TO THAT PARTY BUT THEN PEEL OFF FOR TALKS WITH THE OTHER MISSIONS REFERRED TO ABOVE, BEFORE
JOINING UP WITH LOVE FOR A FULL DAY OR TWO DAYS WHEN HORNBY HAS LEFT TO INSPECT THE ATTC OPERATION AND TO CONSIDER THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.
5. WE RECOGNISE THAT A VISIT BY DAVIES WILL BE THE MOST SENIOR BY AN FCO OFFICIAL TO DATE. VISITS BY MORE SENIOR DTI OFFICIALS
HAVE NOT AROUSED CHINESE CONCERN. REPRESENTATIVES OF THE QUAI
ACCOMPANIED THE FRENCH INDUSTRY MINISTER TO TAIWAN IN JANUARY. THE PURPOSE OF HIS VISIT WOULD BE THE PERFECTLY LEGITIMATE ONE OF GOOD HOUSEKEEPING OF OUR TRADE PROMOTION OFFICE. HE WOULD AVOID, SO FAR AS POSSIBLE, CONTACT WITH TAIWAN OFFICIALDOM (ON THE SAME BASIS AS THE GUIDELINES PREPARED FOR VISITS BY BTC OFFICIALS FROM HONG KONG).
6.
BEFORE WE SUBMIT THE RECOMMENDATIAONS FAXED TO YOU BY FED, GRATEFUL FOR ANY COMMENT FROM YOU OR HONG KONG. PEKING PLEASE
ALSO CONSULT LOVE.
7. (FOR OTHER INFO ADDRESSEES)
THIS IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY AT
THIS STAGE. ONCE THE VISIT FIRMS UP, WE SHALL WANT YOU TO APPROACH HOST GOVERNMENTS TO SEEK THEIR HELP IN ARRANGING FOR DAVIES TO MEET THEIR TAIPEI STAFF FOR A THOROUGH BRIEFING.
HURD
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CONFIDENTIAL