TNAG-2498-FCO40-3636-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Taiwan-1992 — Page 117

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ARE BETTER PLACED TO TRY AND DEFINE. HOWEVER, IT IS QUITE CLEAR THAT THERE IS A CERTAIN COMMUNITY OF INTEREST BETWEEN HONG KONG AND TAIWAN IN THEIR RESPECTIVE DEALINGS WITH THE MAINLAND. IF THIS MEANS A NEED TO WORK MORE CLOSELY TOGETHER, AS SEEMS ALREADY TO BE HAPPENING IN THE TRADE FIELD IT WOULD BE A PITY, AT LEAST SEEN FROM HERE, IF UK OFFICIALDOM WAS ACTUALLY DELIBERATELY HAMPERING THE PROCESS. IN THE MEANTIME, THE MAINLAND AFFAIRS COUNCIL, (MAC) ANNOUNCED ON 3 JUNE THAT IT WILL PUT FORWARD A BILL TO 'REGULATE RELATIONS BETWEEN RESIDENTS OF TAIWAN AND HONG

KONG IN ANTICIPATION OF THE CHANGE IN GOVERNMENT IN 1997 WHEN

HONG KONG IS RETURNED TO MAINLAND CHINESE CONTROL'. THE MAC IS

ALSO CONSIDERING CHANGING THE FORMAT AND FUNCTIONS OF THE TAIWANESE REPRESENTATIVE'S OFFICE IN HONG KONG POST-1997 INTO SOMETHING AKIN TO THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE IN TAIWAN. I THINK IT WOULD BE USEFUL STEP FORWARD IN OUR RELATIONS WITH VINCENT SIEW

IF I COULD TELL HIM THAT ANY FUTURE APPLICATIONS BY HIM TO GO TO HONG KONG WOULD BE FAVOURABLY RECEIVED AND A VISA ISSUED. IT WOULD BE PARTICULARLY VALUABLE IF I WERE TO DO SE WHEN I DELIVER

TO HIM OUR PROPOSALS ON A UK/TAIWAN FINANCIAL SERVICES JOINT COMMITTEE.

6. AS FOR DR FANG AND HIS COLLEAGUES IN THE FOREIGN MINISTRY, IMAGINE THAT IT WILL BE A FAIRLY LENGTHY PROCESS GETTING THE RELATIONSHIP RIGHT THERE. THEY CLEARLY EXPECT ME TO MAKE THE USUAL ROUND OF CALLS. I SHALL EMBARK ON THIS ON MY RETURN FROM HONG KONG AND WILL REPORT ANYTHING INTERESTING THAT EMERGES.

I

SIGNED: P MORRICE

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