CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 923
OF 170915Z MARCH 89
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 020/1
со
04575T
MDHIAN 7194
Ente opa
FCO FOR HALL, FED. PEKING FOR HOARE
UK/TAIWAN RELATIONS
1 THE CHINA NEWS IN TAIPEI CARRIED A LENGTHY REPORT ON 13 MARCH ON UK/TAIWAN RELATIONS HEADED ''ROC/BRITISH RELATIONS STILL ONLY LUKEWARM''. THE ARTICLE WHICH QUOTES POINTON, AND THE BRITISH BUSINESS GROUP IN TAIWAN, IS ON THE WHOLE NEGATIVE IN TONE. THE FACT THAT THE UK IS MORE BACKWARD IN ITS ATTITUDE TO TAIWAN THAN ANY OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRY IS DUE TO THE ''SEVERE MENTAL CONSTIPATION' OF THE FCO.
2. HOWEVER, THE ARTICLE CLAIMS, IMPROVEMENTS ARE IN THE AIR. WHEN THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS VISITED THE UK HE MET HIS COUNTERPART, FCO OFFICIALS HAVE FOR THE FIRST TIME ATTENDED BANQUETS HOSTED BY TAIWANESE TRADE OFFICIALS AND WHEN FOREIGN MINISTER LIAN CHAN GOES TO LONDON IN A FEW WEEKS TIME HE WILL BE OFFERED ''UNPRECEDENTED RED-CARPET TREATMENT INCLUDING A LIMOUSINE WAITING BY THE AIRCRAFT AND USE OF A LOUNGE USUALLY RESERVED FOR THE HIGHEST VISITING DIGNATORIES INCLUDING HEADS OF STATE''.
3. THE ARTICLE ALSO CLAIMS THAT BA ARE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT FLYING TO TAIPEI OR AT LEAST EXCHANGING LANDING RIGHTS OF AIRFREIGHT SERVICES. A SOURCE CLAIMS THE FCO HAS PROMISED TO LOOK INTO THIS.
4. THE ARTICLE CONCLUDES BY SAYING THAT THE MAIN REASON FOR BRITISH RELUCTANCE TO IMPROVE RELATIONS IS FEARS OVER WHAT MAY HAPPEN TO HONG KONG. IT ADDS THAT THIS IS SHORT-SIGHTED FOR IF, AFTER 1997, COMMERCIAL FREEDOM VANISHES IN HK AND IF DIRECT TRADE IS PERMITTED THEN TAIWAN WOULD BE UNIQUELY PLACED TO ACT AS A STEPPING STONE FOR DOING BUSINESS WITH THE MAINLAND.
5. TEXT OF ARTICLE FOLLOWS BY BAG.
WILSON
PAGE 1 CONFIDENTIAL
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