DRAFT LETTER FROM ANDREW BURNS
To:
The Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Howe QC MP
House of Commons
LONDON SWLA OAA
I promised to get back to you on the question of your invitation to visit Taiwan. Having consulted Ministers and others here who know the Chinese scene, I want to repeat the view that it would be a sad waste of your links with You are held China if you went to Taiwan at this point.
in much affection in Peking. I fear that if you did go to Taiwan the Taiwanese would crow, and the Chinese in Peking would feel consequently much offended.
As you may have heard, the Secretary of State will be visiting Hong Kong and Peking in the first week of April. I know that he would welcome a talk with you about China and Hong Kong soon after that.
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