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AS FAR AS HE COULD IN ADVANCING THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
5. SINCE THEN, THE TAIWANESE GOVERNMENT HAD OBSERVED THE EFFORTS BEING MADE BY THE GOVERNOR TO INTRODUCE NEW DEMOCRATIC REFORMS. THESE THEY ENTIRELY APPLAUDED BUT THE PREMIER HAD GIVEN STRICT INSTRUCTIONS THAT THE TAIWANESE GOVERNMENT SHOULD REMAIN MUTE SO AS NOT TO EMBARRASS HMG OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. THERE HAD THUS BEEN NO COMMENT TO THE PRESS THAT HAU AND BARONESS THATCHER HAD DISCUSSED HONG KONG NOR HAD ANY STATEMENT BEEN MADE ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS, ALTHOUGH WE SHOULD BE IN NO DOUBT AS TO HOW STRONGLY TAIWAN SUPPORTED THEM NOR THEIR ADMIRATION FOR THE GOVERNOR'S COURAGE IN THE FACE OF HOSTILITY FROM PEKING.
6. WE COULD COUNT ON THE TAIWANESE NOT TO MAKE THINGS DIFFICULT FOR US OVER HONG KONG. BY WAY OF A SMALL EXAMPLE, HU SAID THAT HE HAD JUST RECENTLY BEEN INVITED TO HONG KONG BY THE ORGANISERS THERE OF THE CANCER RESEARCH CAMPAIGN WHO HAD WANTED HIM TO ATTEND A CHARITY DINNER AT WHICH HE WAS ASSURED HE WOULD MEET THE GOVERNOR. HU HAD CONSULTED THE PREMIER AND THE DECISION WAS THAT HE SHOULD NOT GO FOR FEAR OF EMBARRASSING THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES. HE THEREFORE FINANCED A TABLE AT THE CHARITY EVENT BUT HAD ABSENTED HIMSELF FOR THESE REASONS.
7. THE DECISION, SAID HU TO SET UP A GIO BRANCH IN HONG KONG SHOULD BE SEEN AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND. MOREOVER, THE NEW OFFICE WHICH WOULD PROBABLY BE KNOWN AS THE TAIPEI CULTURAL AND INFORMATION CENTRE SO AS NOT TO UPSET THE CHINESE, WOULD BE BASED ON THE EXISTING OFFICE OF THE FREE CHINA REVIEW (FCR), A GIO- FINANCED PUBLICATION. THE INTENTION WAS TO IMPROVE THE ACCOMMODATION AND STAFFING OF THAT ORGANISATION AND GIVE SOME STRENGTH TO THE VERY ABLE FOR CORRESPONDENT THERE. THEY WOULD THUS HAVE BETTER PREMISES AND PROBABLY A SMALL READING ROOM BUT NOTHING MORE. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE FINANCED FROM THE GIO BUDGET BTU FUNDS WERE LIMITED AND SO IT WOULD NOT BE A VERY SHOWY EFFORT. TAIWANESE GOVERNMENT HAD, IN THE EVENT, DECIDED AGAINST PURCHASING THE PREMISES AND SO WOULD BE RENTING. THE PRESENT CORRESPONDENT, SUZIE CHEN, WOULD STAY ON IN THE IMPROVED OFFICE WHICH MIGHT BE EXPANDED BY TWO ADDITIONAL LOCALLY ENGAGED STAFF AND POSSIBLY, IN THE NEAR FUTURE AN ADDITIONAL TAIPEI-BASED OFFICER. THE NCNA WERE AWARE OF THIS INTENTION AND HAD SAID TO THE TAIWANESE SOME TIME AGO THAT THEY WOULD HAVE NO OBJECTION TO AN ENLARGED OFFICE. TAIPEI'S INTENTION WAS THAT THE OFFICE SHOULD CONTINUE TO FUNCTION AFTER 30 JUNE 19997. THE TAIWANESE WOULD NOT WISH TO PROVOKE THE CHINESE AT THIS POINT IN TIME OVER THE CHANGE
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