TNAG-1868-FCO40-2656-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Taiwan-1989 — Page 73

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SIR PHILIP GOODHART, M.P.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

LONDON SWIA OAA

The Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Howe MP Secretary of State

Foreign & Commonwealth Office King Charles Street

London SW1A 2AH

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May 3, 1989 Teasdale

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This should to the Embassy Peking. ARPS); Nitamund

I am just back from opening the new Anglo-Taiwan Education Centre, which seems to be getting off to a very good start. I enclose a note on it, for your records.

Not surprisingly, I found an attitude of considerable smugness in Taipei, for they seem momentarily to be immune to the problems that beset all their neighbours. Japan has its Recruit crisis and a dangerous political vacuum. The television sets in Taipei are filled with pictures of revolting students on the mainland. There are regular riots in South Korea and the endemic problems of the Philippines remain unsolved. As the Taiwanese move towards a broader based democracy, however, the only manifestations of violence seem to occur on the floor of their House of Commons while they try to tackle the arduous problem of where to store their mounting gold and dollar reserves.

I had an exceptionally friendly reception, with rather more banquets than I could easily digest. In part this was due to the fact that we are clearly trying to help ourselves. When I was last there, in October 1987, our physical presence was dreary and depressing.

Now our new offices are spid and span and we look as though we are ready to do business. In particular the new visa office is most welcome. The new interest in Britain is also partly attributable to their concern about 1992 and the integrated market. We are the only part of the EEC which is linguistically accessible to them and Taiwanese organisations of all sorts perceive the need to recruit people who have British qualifications and who know about our ways.

Following the establishment of our Education Centre, the Pacific Cultural Foundation in Taipei will be establishing a cultural centre here. The list of directors of the Pacific Cultural Foundation contains just about all the top men and women in Taiwan's industry and commerce. I had friendly discussions with the Foundation staff and they are looking forward to using their London office as a sort of cultural headquarters for much of the EEC. This sounds rather grander than it is. The summer and autumn programme consists of a continental tour by a troupe of hand pupeteers and a travelling exhibition of pictures by a 91 year old artist.

SIS