CONFIDENTIAL
17.
121437
MDLOAN 3602
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELNO 1069
OF 05182OZ JUNE 91
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
(16)
MKCOZO/3
ра
Taiwan
C
YOUR TELNO 1793: NEW HEAD OF CHUNG HWA TRAVEL SERVICE
1. HEAD OF FED AND ASSISTANT WERE LUNCHED BY HEAD OF MAJESTIC TRADING COMPANY ON 31 MAY TO MEET JOHN NI CHANG-I. NI HAD EARLIER ASKED FOR A MEETING WITH PAUL TO BE BRIEFED ON HMG'S POLICY ON HONG KONG, BUT WE RESISTED THIS OSTENSIBLY ON DIARY GROUNDS.
2.
LUNCH INVITATION WAS ACCEPTED ON THE (FALSE) ASSUMPTION THAT NI WAS TO HEAD THE NEW TRADE CENTRE, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF HIS HELPFULNESS GENERALLY TO UK INTERESTS IN TAIWAN. WE WERE UNAWARE THAT HIS POSTING WAS TO BE TO HEAD CHUNG HWA, (IE) TO BE THE UNOFFICIAL TAIWAN CONSUL GENERAL, OR WE MIGHT HAVE BEEN RATHER
MORE CIRCUMSPECT.
3.
OVER THE LUNCH LITTLE OF SUBSTANCE WAS DISCUSSED IN RELATION TO NI'S FUTURE FUNCTIONS, ALTHOUGH HE DID EXPRESS THE HOPE THAT WE COULD ASSIST OVER HIS VISA (WE WERE NON-COMMITTAL). HE CAME ACROSS PERSONALLY AS A VERY AGREEABLE AND SOPHISTICATED HUMAN BEING WHO DID NOT LEAVE THE IMPRESSION THAT HE WOULD BE PUSHY OR INSENSITIVE IN PURSUING HIS OBJECTIVES. HE IS VERY WELL CONNECTED TO THE KMT OLD GUARD, HIS FATHER BEING AN ADMIRAL CON WHOSE VESSEL CHIANG KAISHEK FLED TO TAIWAN). SICHUANESE BY ORIGIN, HIS FATHER'S MAINLAND RELATIVES SPENT THREE MONTHS WITH HIS FAMILY IN TAIPEI LAST YEAR. HE HAS LONG HAD MULTINATIONAL PRIVATE SECTOR BUSINESS EXPERIENCE IN THE US AND JAPAN BEFORE BEING HEAD-HUNTED TO TAKE OVER IDIC. HE HAD A GOOD DEAL TO SAY ABOUT INCREASING TAIWAN / PRC LINKS, BUT LITTLE OR NOTHING (BY ACCIDENT OR DESIGN) ABOUT TAIWAN'S AMBITIONS IN HONG KONG.
4.
WE CAN SEE THE ATTRACTION OF THE COURSE YOU PROPOSE IN YOUR PARA 7. THIS SEEMS A SENSIBLE COMPROMISE (THOUGH IT WILL OF COURSE STILL BE RESENTED BY THE TAIWAN AUTHORITIES). WE ARE READY, IF NECESSARY, TO EXPLAIN YOUR REASONING TO MAJESTIC.
5. YOU WILL NO DOUBT BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR ANY MOVE BY THE
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