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FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 382
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IT MAT 1993
OF 100145Z MARCH 93
CON INDEX
PA
Action fur
AND TO IMMEDIATE ATTC TAIPEI
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
28
29
046050
MDHIAN 2693
TAIPEI TELNO 66: TAIWANESE REPRESENTATIVE IN LONDON.
1. TUR SUGGEST THAT A MEMBER OF THE POLITICAL ADVISER'S OFFICE
SHOULD MEET RAYMOND TAI WHEN HE PASSES THROUGH HONG KONG. OBVIOUSLY, WITH TALKS ON CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS ABOUT TO START WITH THE CHINESE, NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO DEPART FROM OUR TRADITIONAL CAUTIOUS PRACTICE. NO-ONE IN THE PA'S OFFICE DIRECTLY MEETINGS JOHN NI, THE UNOFFICIAL TAIWANESE REPRESENTATIVE HERE: WE CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH HIM INDIRECTLY.
2. HOWEVER, WE APPRECIATE THE VALUE OF CULTIVATING TAIWANESE CONTACTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE WELL DISPOSED. WE THINK IT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE IF DPA WERE TO MEET TAI OVER LUNCH ORGANISED BY A THIRD PARTY. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WHO
MIGHT ORGANISE SUCH A LUNCH. LINUS CHEUNG (CATHAY PACIFIC, FORMER MEMBER OF THE CENTRAL POLICY UNIT, WHO HAS OFTEN BEEN A CHANNEL FOR MESSAGES TO AND FROM THE TAIWANESE) IS AN OBVIOUS
POSSIBILITY.
3.
PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU WISH US TO DO THIS SO THAT WE CAN
CONTACT CHEUNG OR ANOTHER INTERMEDIARY. IF ON THE OTHER HAND YOU THINK DPA WOULD BE TOO LOW A LEVEL TO GAIN ANY BENEFIT WITH TAI, WE THINK WE SHOULD LET THIS PASS. WE CANNOT RISK A STRONG CHINESE
REACTION AT THIS JUNCTURE BY FIELDING SOMEONE MORE SENIOR. COULD
ATTC TAIPEI PLEASE ALSO GIVE US DATES FOR TAI'S VISIT TO HONG
KONG QUERY.
PATTEN
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