По
Mr Me Gove Melare
Quqxtur, 02375
b
HKGD
862
Dear Bryan.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
HKK 2431
!-
RECEIVED REGISGN C. 51
- AJUNTO 29 May 1979
DESK OFFIC INDEX
PA
TRY
дав 26.6 pe
In the light of this afternoon's discussion between the Prime Minister, the Home Secretary and the Lord Privy Seal, the conclusions of which were recorded in your letter of today's date to Stephen Wall, the Lord Frivy Seal has considered the options available to us in trying to put pressure on the Taiwanese to accept the refugees on the "Roachbank" in order to maintain the principle of "first port of call".
The Lord Frivy Seal has already spoken personally to Mr Blaker, in Washing' on, to ask him to reinforce the message to the Americans to add to the pressure on the Taiwanese, although following the establishment of relations between the United States and the People's Republic of China last December, the United States' ability to influence the attitude of the authorities in Taiwan is limited.
We do not have official relations with Taiwan and recognise only the People's Republic of China.
Any attempt
to send a Minister or a senior official to Taiwan would be regarded by the authorities in Feking as an act of recognition of Taiwan as a separate government and would lead to an immediate and strong reaction from Feking.
It is also
questionable whether the Taiwanese authorities would be prepared to receive such an official envoy in the circumstances.
B Cartledge Esq
/We
No 10 Downing Street
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.