TNAG-2291-FCO40-3300-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Taiwan-1991 — Page 29

CONFIDENTIAL

112640

MDHIAN435

FUTURE THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO SEND ECONOMIC OR TRADE MINISTERS, OF WHICH THERE WERE MANY, SO THE FRENCH COULD REPLY TO CHINESE COMPLAINTS THAT THE MINISTER HAD VISITED TAIWAN FOR PURELY BUSINESS, NOT POLITICAL, REASONS. HOWEVER WITHIN THE PROTECTION AFFORDED BY THE TERM 'PRIVATE' IT WAS IMPORTANT TO PRESERVE CHINESE FACE. HE DID NOT EXPECT THERE TO BE ANOTHER MINISTERIAL VISIT THIS YEAR BUT PERHAPS ONE IN EARLY 1992. THE LAST VISIT, BY THE MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY, HAD BEEN DIFFICULT. THE TAIWANESE HAD TREATED THE VISIT ALMOST AS A STATE VISIT IN TERMS OF CALLS: HE HAD MET THE PRIME MINISTER, PRESIDENT AND FIVE OTHER MINISTERS. CHESNEL COMMENTED THAT THE TAIWANESE COULD NOT BE TRUSTED NOT TO PUBLICISE ANY PRIVATE VISIT AND FAUROUX'S VISIT HAD RECEIVED HEAVY COVERAGE. DESPITE CHINESE COMPLAINTS THE FRENCH HAD WARNED THEM THAT THERE WOULD CONTINUE TO BE MINISTERIAL VISITS TO TAIWAN. CHESNEL POINTED OUT THAT BEFORE BECOMING PRIME MINISTER, MME. CRESSON WAS A VERY ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE PRO-TAIWAN LOBBY AND IT WAS LIKELY THAT SHE WOULD ENCOURAGE FURTHER MINISTERIAL VISITS.

5. ON POSSIBLE LINKAGE I AGREE WITH THE GOVERNOR CHONG KONG TELNO 2808) THAT THE CHIESE WOULD BE UNLIKELY TO RETALIATE AGAINST HONG KONG IF MR. LANG WERE TO GO TO TAIWAN. PARTICULARLY AFTER THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT. BUT THE TAIWAN AUTHORITIES WOULD BE LIKELY TO ENGINEER A GREAT DEAL OF PUBLICITY FOR SUCH A VISIT BY MR. LANG (THEY DID SO WHEN MEADWAY (UNDER SECRETARY, DT I VISITED TAIWAN RECENTLY, TO THE EXTENT THAT THE CHINESE FELT OBLIGED TO PROTEST: THEY WOULD MAKE FAR MORE FUSS OF A VISIT BY A CABINET MINISTER, WHICH WOULD BE A FIRST). THAT SAID IF THE SCOTTISH SECRETARY WENT AHEAD WITH HIS PLANS, I DOUBT WHETHER OUR INTERESTS HERE WOULD SUFFER ANY SERIOUS HARM, PROVIDED WE COULD PLAUSIBLE REPRESENT THE VISIT AS ''PRIVATE'' AND MR. LANG KEPT CLOSELY TO ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL THEMES.

6.

NONETHELESS CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT OUR INTERESTS ARE BEST SERVED BY PROCEEDING STEADILY BUT GRADUALLY, AS WE HAVE SUCCEEDED IN DOING IN THE LAST FEW YEARS THE SUDDEN CHANGE OF GEAR WHICH A VISIT BY A CABINET MINISTER WOULD REPRESENT WOULD NOT ONLY LEAD

TO PROTESTS WHIC WE COULD LIVE WITH) BUT CAUSE THE CHINESE TO

SCRUTINISE OUR SUBSEQUENT BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS TAIWAN MORE CLOSELY.

IN SHORT WE SHOULD BE CREATING UNNECESSARY TROUBLE FOR OURSELVES.

MUCH BETTER, SURELY TO GET ON WITH IMPROVING/UPGRADING OUR REPRESENTATION, IN TAIWAN WE HAVE NOT YET SEEN THE OUTCOME OF THE INSPECTION OF THE ATTC AT THE END OF JULY).

2

PAGE

CONFIDENTIAL