TNAG-2291-FCO40-3300-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Taiwan-1991 — Page 92

CONFIDENTIAL

1 MKCO20/3

PS/Lord Caithness

Private Secretary

From:

RA Burns

28 MAR 1991

Date:

Cc:

Mr Cox N масух Mr Spinty

21 March 1991

PS/PUS

Sir J Coles

Mr Davies, FED Mr Paul, HKD

21/2

p.a.

Taiwan

28

EMISSARIES TO CHINA

1.

PW

Sir Geoffrey Howe wrote to Mr McLaren earlier this month to seek his advice on whether it would be appropriate for him to take up an invitation from the Taiwanese to visit Taipei and deliver a lecture.

Th

2. I do not believe that this is a good idea, because Sir Geoffrey Howe is very much seen in Peking as an "old friend" of China. They would see a visit by him to Taiwan as a particular slap in the face. By contrast, the Taiwanese Government could hardly refrain from crowing. I believe Lord Caithness shares this view. I have sent

Sir Geoffrey Howe an interim reply, indicating that I do not think this a good idea but that I would want to take further suondings before being emphatic on the point.

3. I do not want Sir Geoffrey Howe to turn down the invitation to Taiwan in the expectation that we wanted him to undertake a visit to Peking, unless the Secretary of State is happy to consider Sir Geoffrey Howe in such a role.

4. Sir Geoffrey Howe's reputation in China stems from his negotiation of the Joint Declaration. His opposite number then as Foreign Minister was Wu Xue Qian, who is now the Vice Premier responsible for Foreign Affairs. Sir Geoffrey Howe saw him when he transited London a year ago en route to Africa. Wu seems to be held in reasonable regard in Peking despite the fact that his son was involved in the events in Tiananmen Square.

5.

We have had a number of hints from the Chinese that they would like to see Sir Geoffrey Howe pay a visit to China. Ambassador Ji mentioned this to Sir Geoffrey Howe last June and more recently when he paid a farewell call. One of the Assistant Ministers in Peking mentioned the idea to the Head of Far Eastern Department in December. And Mr Galsworthy has

recently reminded us of the possible value in using Sir Geoffrey Howe as the kind of emissary from the British Government which the Chinese so much love.

CONFIDENTIAL

4