TNAG-2363-FCO40-3434-Visits-by-MPs-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 40

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011322

MDHIAN 2908

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FM PEKING

TO IMMEDIATE F C O

TELNO

1980

OF 21084OZ NOVEMBER 91

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, B T C HONG KONG

FOR DAVIES, F E D FROM AMBASSADOR.

F CO TELNO 1331.

Plaw MPol

пр visits fie

MJ 211AT

SELECT COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND INDUSTRY: HONG KONG, SOUTH CHINA, TAIWAN.

1. THANK YOU FOR THIS ADVANCE WARNING. I AGREE GENERALLY WITH THE ADVICE WHICH YOU AND THE D T I HAVE ALREADY GIVEN TO THE COMMITTEE, WITH THE FOLLOWING GLOSSES:

(A) AS YOU SAY, AN INVITATION FROM THE NPC WOULD PROBABLY BE NECESSARY. THEY OR THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT MIGHT WELL TAKE THE VIEW THAT THE COMMITTEE SHOULD VISIT PEKING FOR TALKS BEFORE GOING TO GUANGDONG AND FUJIAN. THE SIMPLEST WAY TO DISCOVER WHETHER THIS IS LIKELY TO BE A CHINESE REQUIREMENT WOULD BE FOR YOU OR THE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN TO HAVE AN INFORMAL WORD WITH THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR.

(B) IT WOULOD CERTAINLY BE SENSIBLE TO VISIT TAIWAN AFTER CHINA AND HONG KONG: THE CHANCES OF SECURING THE TAIWAN AUTHORITIES' COOPERATION IN DOWN PLAYING THE PUBLIC PRESENTATION OF A VISIT TO TAIWAN MUST BE SLIM. BUT WE SHOULD NOT SEEK TO CONCEAL FROM THE CHINESE THE FACT THAT THE COMMITTEE'S ENQUIRY INCLUDES TAIWAN, OR THAT THEY PLAN TO GO THERE.

(C) THE IMPLICATION OF THE LAST SENTENCE OF PARA 3 OF T U R IS THAT COMMITTEE MEMBERS THINK THAT WE ARE OVER-STAFFED IN CHINA AND UNDER-STAFFED IN TAIWAN. IF SO I HOPE THAT THEY WILL AVOID SUGGESTING IN THEIR REPORT THAT THE F C O SHOULD TRANSFER RESOURCES FROM THE MAINLAND TO TAIWAN. BUT I SUSPECT THAT AFTER VISITING GUANGDONG THEY MAY TAKE THE VIEW THAT WE NEED A PRESENCE ON THE GROUND THERE.

(D) THERE WILL BE AN OBVIOUS RISK OF THE COMMITTEE GETTING DRAWN INTO POLITICAL ISSUES, PARTICULARLY IF BOTH FUJIAN AND TAIWAN ARE

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