TNAG-1624-FCO40-2238-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-China-1987 — Page 3

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an irritant in bilateral relations.

Reference......

5. Mr Cooper said that he was shocked by the letter, and assured Mr Zhang that we also took a serious view of such matters, but that this case was amost certainly due to a mistake by a junior member of the Home Office rather than an expression of HMG's policy. Mr Cooper said that we would write to the people concerned in strong and clear terms and asked Mr Zhang to let FED know if this ever happened again.

6.

Mr Cooper then said that it was inevitable that we continue to have some contact with the authorities in Taiwan on such matters as visas, but that we would endeavour to do so in a way which did not imply recognition. Mr Zhang replied that he was sure this could be done skillfully. Interestingly the Chinese did not object to the ECGD going to Taiwan in their official capacity, only to their mistaken method of obtaining visas for their visit.

Invitation for Prince & Princess of Wales to Visit China

7. Mr Cooper then turned to the issues raised by Mr Zhang in his previous call (recorded in my minute to you of 5 November). Referring to the kind invitation for the Prince and Princess of Wales to visit China, Mr Cooper said that we had informed the Royal Household and were awaiting a reply.

International Police Organisation

8.

Mr Cooper also told Mr Zhang that we had written to the Metropolitan Police and Home Office on the status of the Taiwanese delegation to the IPO, making our position clear. Mr Cooper said that he hoped this would produce the right result.

EC/Vietnamese Diplomatic Relations

Mr Cooper then spoke on standard lines about the possibility of diplomatic relations between the EC and Vietnam (Dr Reilly's minute to me of 6 November and FCO telno 447).

9.

SB9 ABC

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