RESTRICTED
17
175732
MDLIAN 7162
RESTRICTED
FM ATTC TAIPEI
TO PRIORITY F C O
TELNO ATTCT 16
OF 06091OZ JULY 92
ра
سل
INFO ROUTINE TOKYO, SEOUL, PEKING, HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG
YOUR TELNO 338 TO TOKYO: VISIT BY MR ALLAN STEWART, SCOTTISH OFFICE MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY
1
*
REVISED DATES FOR TAIWAN OF 20-22 OR 23 SEPTEMBER ARE FINE. A DATE IN EARLY SPRING 1993 FOR A VISIT BY MINISTER OF STATE FOR WALES WOULD GIVE JUST ABOUT THE RIGHT BREATHING SPACE FOLLOWING MR STEWART'S VISIT.
2.
AS DISCUSSED WITH DAVIES (FED) DURING HIS VISIT TO TAIPEI ON 26 JUN, I HAVE BEEN REFLECTING ON THE SORT OF ORGANISATION THAT MIGHT BE USED AS THE VEHICLE FOR A PRIVATE INVITATION TO MR STEWART. ONE POSSIBILITY MIGHT BE THE SINO-BRITISH CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION. ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT MORIBUND IN RECENT YEARS. IT IS BEGINNING TO SHOW SIGNS OF LIFE AND SOME OF THE LEADING BRITISH EXPATRIATES WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT FLOURISH AGAIN. OTHERS ARE MORE SCEPTICAL. NEVERTHELESS, DESPITE ITS PREVIOUS ASSOCIATIONS WITH CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE OLD GUARD OF THE KMT IT COULD BE A CREDIBLE ''HOST' ON THIS OCCASION AND MR STEWART'S VISIT UNDER ITS AUSPICES COULD HELP BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO IT. THE MINISTER COULD BE PREPARED TO ADDRESS THE
ASSOCIATION.
3.
ALTERNATIVELY, THERE IS THE ST ANDREW'S SOCIETY OF TAIWAN WHICH WOULD NO DOUBT BE PREPARED NO ONLY TO ISSUE A SUITABLE INVITATION BUT ALSO TO ORGANISE A SOCIAL OCCASION WHICH THE MINISTER WOULD BE EXPECTED TO ATTEND. BUT IT IS SMALL AND
OPERATES ON A SOMEWHAT AD HOC BASIS.
4"
I SHALL MAKE PROGRAMME RECOMMENDATIONS ONCE FCO MINISTERS HAVE APPROVED THE VISIT. IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO KNOW THEN THE EXTENT TO WHICH WE WOULD INVOLVE THE 'LOCATE IN SCOTLAND'' HONG KONG BUREAU IN OUR PREPARATIONS.
MORRICE
YYYY
He now wishes t
нк
Visit Hk as
well.
HKD O26/12-