TNAG-0420-FCO40-466-Registration-of-merchant-shipping-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 8

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(b) Private Visitors from Taiwan.

In general the same principles apply to invitations to official British receptions to private visitors from Taiwan. The protocol criterion (see (a) above) is not relevant since private visitors do not represent the Nationalist authorities, but there would still be a risk of embarrassment in our relations with Peking if the attendance of private visitors from Taiwan at official receptions were to lead to publicity. If it seems likely that the exclusion of private visitors from Taiwan from an official reception would cause unacceptable embarrassment, the matter should be referred at an early stage to Far Eastern Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Attendance by Private Visitors from Taiwan at Non-Official International Conferences and Functions in the UK

12. Although the presence of private visitors from Taiwan (or representatives of para-statal organisations in Taiwan) at international conferences and functions in the UK (eg Trades Union meetings, educational fora) is a potential source of embarrassment in our relations with China it would be difficult to refuse applications for visas (see paragraph 9 above). It is therefore our policy to advise the Home Office to grant visas provided that a warning is given to the applicants not to engage, while in the UK, in any activity likely to cause embarrassment to HMG. (In regard to official receptions for such conferences or functions the considerations in

paragraph 11(b) apply.) Far Eastern Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office consider each case on its merits before advising the Home Office.

Contacts by Government Servants with Nationalist Officials in Third Countries

13.

Occasions may arise, for example in countries which still maintain diplomatic relations with the "Republic of China" (Taiwan), where British Government servants attend receptions at which Nationalist officials are also present. (Such occasions are very unlikely to arise in the UK because of the restrictions upon the presence of Nationalist officials (paragraph 10 above).) The general principles governing the attitude to be adopted towards representa- tives of territories which we do not recognise as States or with which we have no diplomatic relations (including instances where they are Dean of the local Diplomatic Corps) are laid out in Section H of Volume VII of Diplomatic Service Procedure (copy attached). In brief British Government servants should aim to treat Nationalist officials with no more than the courtesy consistent with normal social usage and avoid being drawn into substantive discussions. They should not of course accept official invitations from employees of the Nationalist authorities. If necessary Far Eastern Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office should be consulted.

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