GOVERMENT HOUSE HONG KONG.
FRI 04 DEC 92 02:46
PG.03
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2
saw no objection to the exchange of views between Hong Kong and Taiwan under
the APEC framework. He also took note of Taiwan's important role in economic and trade matters under the International trading system.
4.
On 2 November 1992, when I met Qin again in Beijing, I reminded
him that my visit to Taiwan would take place shortly. He did not comment further but asked me to convey the same message to my counterpart in MOFERT,
5.
On the same day, 2 November, I told Long Yongtu (Director
Senior Economist, Department of International Relations, MOFERT) abou my
proposed visit to Taiwan, emphasising that Taiwan was Hong Kong's fourth largest
trading parmer. Long nodded without making any comments.
5.
On 23 November in Hong Kong, I invited Chen Keqiang to lunch and
told him that my visit to Taiwan would take place on 10-15 December,
Following my decision to postpone the visit because of a sudden revival of GATT activities in Geneva requiring my presence there in mid-December, on 27 November I telephoned Zhang Songtao of the Economic Affairs Department
of NCNA, in the absence of Chen Keqiang, that my trip to Taiwan had been postponed, and I gave him the reason. He thanked me for the notice.
8.
A copy of my letter to my APEC counterpart in Chinese Taipei concerning the postponement of my trip is attached. The news report on the postponement (also attached) was released on 1 December by United Daily from
a Taiwanese source.
Churidars
2.