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FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
TELNO 1341
OF 15183OZ NOVEMBER 91
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HKD $20/46
Plu
46
174223 MDHOAN 4891
Ministernal waits file
AND TO PRIORITY HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG
HONG KONG: PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR
POSSIBLE MINISTERIAL VISIT(S) TO TAIWAN
1.
YOU WILL BE AWARE THAT FCO MINISTERS HAVE TAKEN THE LINE THAT A VISIT TO TAIWAN BY A CABINET MINISTER, EVEN FROM A REGIONAL OFFICE, WOULD BE PITCHING TOO HIGH. WE HAVE TOLD THE DTI AND REGIONAL OFFICES THAT WE WOULD HOWEVER BE READY TO CONSIDER A QUOTE PRIVATE UNQUOTE VISIT BY A JUNIOR REGIONAL MINISTER.
2.
THE SCOTTISH OFFICE AND THE WELSH OFFICE HAVE NOW INDICATED A STRONG INTEREST IN SUCH A VISIT, WITH THE SCOTTISH OFFICE BIDDING SPECIFICALLY FOR A VISIT BY THEIR PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY FOR INDUSTRY IN JANUARY, COMBINED IDEALLY WITH A VISIT TO KOREA.
3. WE PROPOSE TO CONVENE A MEETING OF THE THREE REGIONAL OFFICES AND DTI, PROBABLY ON 21 NOVEMBER TO SORT OUT A GAME PLAN. WE DO NOT (NOT) NEED TO ASSUME THAT THIS MEETING WILL GIVE THE GO-AHEAD TO ANY VISIT(S). MUCH WILL DEPEND UPON OUR ASSESSMENT OF THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF ANY SUCH INITIATIVE. WE ARE VERY CONSCIOUS THAT WE WOULD NOT WISH TO UNNECESSARILY COMPLICATE THE CHANCES OF PROGRESS EG ON HONG KONG ASAS.
4. WE WOULD WELCOME ANY VIEWS FROM PEKING OR HONG KONG ADDRESSEES IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING, INTER ALIA ON:
(A) WHETHER IT WOULD BE BETTER NOT (NOT) TO COMBINE A VISIT TO TAIWAN WITH ONE TO ANOTHER FAR EAST DESTINATION:
(B) THE SPACING OF ANY VISITS (WE UNDERSTAND THAT MR SAINSBURY ALSO HAS IN MIND A VISIT, PSOSIBLY IN JUNE):
(C) HOW TO DRESS A VISIT UP AS PRIVATE:
(D) ANY REASON WHY A VISIT IN JANUARY MIGHT BE POORLY TIMED ETC.
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