objectives: to support China's transition to a civil society through a carefully targeted exchange programme; to continue to work in partnership with a wide range of British interests in China through the provision of information, advice, administrative support and joint funding and to identify constructive new areas for joint endeavour between Britain and China.
8.5 We are now looking forward to developing closer links with Hong Kong and are giving consideration to the situation in Taiwan now that there are closer commercial and cultural links with the mainland.
Hong Kong
9.1 Hong Kong has always been excluded from the Centre's remit, but as we approach 1997 we have been exploring ways of extending the scope of our activities and building on our existing contacts. We have identified two priorities, namely, developing our information base on Hong Kong and secondly, carrying out projects on a tripartite basis. Bringing together people and ideas can help to address China's development priorities. Outside the sphere of business mainland China has been reluctant to acknowledge the value of Hong Kong's own experience. Current projects on juvenile justice, communities in the city and environmental education all include a Hong Kong dimension and will, we hope, address the key issues of the rule of law and the demands of a plural society.
Taiwan
10.1 The Centre has no exchange programme with Taiwan although we have informal links with the Taiwan Representative Office and collect materials on Taiwan for our library. We see scope for developing cultural relations with Taiwan, particularly in the arts and academic fields. The Taiwanese are already a significant source of financial support for many university Chinese departments and there has also been Taiwanese sponsorship for exhibitions and arts events. Taiwan's domestic economic and political achievements are of interest to both Britain and to its neighbours in the region.
8
July 1993