TNAG-1791-FCO40-2551-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation--including-Opera-1988 — Page 213

CONFIDENTIAL

Greece

Spain

France

Ireland

Italy

a one man branch office of the Board of Exports in Taiwan. No visas issued by this office.

private representation of the Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan. A cultural centre in Spain whose staff includes a career Taiwanese diplomat. Visas issued in Hong Kong but

Kong but 'facilitated' through the Chamber of Commerce office in Taiwan.

private institutions (2 in each case) in Taiwan and in France.

currently no offices in Taiwan or in Dublin. But Irish have recently agreed to opening of a Free China Centre in Dublin to be headed by a career diplomat acting in a private capacity. Pressure from commercial interests to open an office in Taiwan.

Visas processed through Hong Kong or London. Pressure from Taiwan to change this system.

no office in Taiwan though plans to open one have existed for some years. No Taiwanese representation in Italy, but Taiwan maintains Embassy to the Vatican. Visas for Taiwan issued through Hong Kong. Taiwanese claim the system "too complicated".

Netherlands The Dutch system for handling visas was described to me privately by the Dutch representative over dinner. Like the French and Germans the Dutch have yielded to pressures to the extent that they now have a system whereby visas for selected businessmen (some 5000 visas annually out of a total amount of 20,000) are delivered to applicants by their unofficial office in Taiwan. The office records the details of the applicant in a telex message to The Hague, copied to Hong Kong; The Hague authorises the issue of the visa; the Hong Kong Consulate-General telegraphs its formal agreement to issue the visa; and the Taiwanese Office then fills in the details of the applicant on paper prestamped and signed by the visa issuing officer in Hong Kong. The Dutch justify this system legally by arguing that the visa is issued in Hong Kong and only delivered in Taiwan. The whole process can take as little as 3-4 days.

(Comment: We must take another close look at this question.

If others are able to find a way round the legal problems of issuing selected visas in Taiwan, perhaps we can too.)

/ Luxembourg

CONFIDENTIAL