TNAG-2498-FCO40-3636-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Taiwan-1992 — Page 8

CONFIDENTIAL

020/5

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

1993

(4?

012611

MDLIAN 4020

pa 020/5

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 2951

OF 240328Z DECEMBER 92

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

REGISTRY

PA

Action Taken

INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG INFO PRIORITY ATTC TAIPEI

41

OUR TELNO 2893: HONG KONG/TAIWAN RELATIONS: DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF TRADE: VISIT TO TAIWAN

1. GIVEN THE POLITICAL DIFFICULTIES AT THE MOMENT OF TAKING A DELEGATION TO TAIPEI AS ORIGINALLY INTENDED, THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF TRADE IS CONSIDERING ALTERNATIVES.

2. ONE WHICH PRESENTS ITSELF IS AN APEC FIELD STUDY WHICH IS BEING ORGANISED IN FEBRUARY NEXT YEAR FOR ALL APEC MEMBERS. IT WILL BE ATTENDED BY ABOUT TEN DELEGATIONS INCLUDING THE PRC AND WILL CONSIST OF FACTORY VISITS IN TAIWAN. THE DELEGATIONS WILL BE STAYING A VARYING AMOUNT OF TIME, AND WILL BE OF VARYING SIZE.

3. TSANG PLANS TO TAKE A SMALLER GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH HIM THAN HIS ORIGINAL DELEGATION. HE WOULD STAY FOR THREE TO FOUR DAYS. HE WOULD ATTEND AT LEAST SOME OF THE FIELD STUDY TRIPS, AND ALSO USE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS WHICH HE HAD HOPED TO HAVE EARLIER THIS MONTH.

COMMENT

4. ASSUMING WE INTRODUCE LEGISLATION ON CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM TO LEGCO AFTER CHINESE NEW YEAR, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT OUR RELATIONS WITH THE CHINESE WILL BE ANY EASIER IN FEBRUARY THAN THEY ARE NOW. HOWEVER, THE CHINESE CANNOT OBJECT TO OUR PARTICIPATING IN AN APEC FIELD TRIP ATTENDED BY OTHERS INCLUDING THEMSELVES. IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT OTHER DELEGATIONS WILL BE CONDUCTING DISCUSSIONS OF THEIR OWN WITH THE TAIWANESE ON THE SIDE. FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF SIZE OF DELEGATION AND DURATION OF STAY, TSANG DOES NOT THINK HE WOULD BE CONSPICUOUS, ALTHOUGH HE MIGHT BE HIGHER LEVEL THAN THE LEADERS OF SOME OTHER DELEGATIONS.

5. WE THEREFORE BELIEVE HE COULD PURSUE THIS OPTION. GRATEFUL FOR

YOU VIEWS.

PATTEN

1

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