TNAG-2291-FCO40-3300-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Taiwan-1991 — Page 22

TAIPEI CHINA CENTRE.

SECRET

132 10

MDLIAN L-29

7. WE WILL NOT AGREE TO NI CALLING FORMALLY ON THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY OR THE POLITICAL ADVISER. WITH BOTH OF THEM, AN INDIRECT DIALOGUE THROUGH SPECIAL BRANCH AND IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT IS ALL THAT IS OPERATIONALLY NECESSARY. OF COURSE, WE CANNOT PREVENT INFORMAL MEETINGS AT MEALS GIVEN BY THIRD PARTIES, AND SUCH ENCOUNTERS ARE LIKELY SINCE NI IS ALREADY ACTIVE SOCIALLY. GIVEN NI'S FORMER FOREIGN TRADE RESPONSIBILITIES IN TAIWAN, AND HIS DECLARED WISH TO DEVELOP THE ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP WITH HONG KONG, HE MAY ALSO IN DUE COURSE SEEK TO CALL ON THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY AND THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES. WE WILL NOT STIMULATE THIS. INDEED, THE TDC HANDLES DAY TO DAY TRADE WORK WITH TAIWAN. BUT THESE TWO SECRETARIES ARE, COINCIDENTALLY, RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OUTWARD AND INWARD TRAVEL INDUSTRIES. SUBJECT TO YOUR VIEWS THEREFORE, WE WOULD NOT INTEND TO REFUSE CALLS ON THEM IF NI PROPOSES THEM. WITH THE CHINESE THEY CAN BE DEFENDED AS CALLS BY THE HEAD OF A TRAVEL SERVICE ON THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS RESPONSIBLE FOR LINE WITH THE FS HOWEVER. FOR ANY CALL ON HIM.

WILSON

THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY. WE WOULD DRAW THE THERE IS NO OPERATIONAL JUSTIFICATION

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

20

LIMITED HKD

NNNN

DISTRIBUTION

20

FED

MR BURNS

PAGE 2 SECRET

THIS IS A COPY

THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN

CLOSED UNDER

FOI EXEMPTION NO. 27(1) +40(2)