TNAG-2498-FCO40-3636-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Taiwan-1992 — Page 82

1.PL Gagh (fax) to ith them

Ehrman

Political Advise

Mary King 2. informe

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HKC 020/5

см

FROM: H Ll Davies

Far Eastern Department

DATE:

28 July 1992

CC: Mr Hum

Ms Lewis, CRD

Mr Ricketts, HKD

Mr Morrice, ATTC Taipei

Mr Coates, Peking

Mr Love, OT2/2, DTI

Mr Welsh

24/7

LUNCH WITH HEAD OF TAIWAN REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE

1.

I had my second lunch with Raymond Tai, again hosted by Sir William Bentley on 24 July.

Taipei Office

I explained

2. We began by briefly discussing my visit. that this had been entirely to talk to Mr Morrice and to get an impression of what other representative offices in Taipei were doing. I made a point of telling Tai that Mr Morrice was having a number of problems in settling in. I hoped that the Taiwan authorities could assist as necessary. Tai made supportive noises. I mentioned the gripes by Dr Fang (MFA) and Mr Siew (MOEA). Tai tut-tutted. Fang should have known better than to greet a new arrival in that way and Siew should recognise that the situation had changed radically over fifteen years. (I recorded separately, in a tel to ATTC, our discussion on harassment and on work permit problems).

Visas

3. Tai once again raised the possibility of using a sticker in passports submitted to the TRO, rather than the existing separate piece of paper which was labour intensive (name, passport number etc all needing to be inserted). Tai had been in Brussels recently and compared notes with three of his colleagues from Brussels, Germany and France who all claimed a more liberal regime in their capitals. Germany also allowed the issue of new passports provided that these were stamped as from MFA Taiwan rather than the Bonn office. On the visa question, I said that we were likely to be able to meet him judging by recent legal advice I had received.

I

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