A
Relations with Taiwan
4.
Sudy said that ways were being found around most of the obvious problems with Taiwan: it had been proved that Hungary could move closer without endangering links with China. There had been numerous high- level Hungarian visitors to Taipei in a private/unofficial context, though no Ministerial visits as yet. The Taiwanese had recently kept their promises not to publish details of these visits. Sudy was grateful for the briefing which the Department gave the Hungarian Embassy last year. He added that direct contact between experts would be even more useful: he had recently been to Vienna to discuss Taiwan with the Austrian MFA. I offered to try to arrange a programme if Sudy ever wished to visit London. He expressed interest and said that he might be making a private visit in May.
Hong Kong
5.
Sudy mentioned that Jeszenszky would not be in a position to announce dates for opening a Hungarian Consul-General in Hong Kong during his visit. Agreement had been reached between the MFA and the MIER on joint staffing and financing (and on a MIER candidate for the Consul Generalship). But neither Ministry had spare funds available, nor were there other Embassies which Hungary could easily close. An approach had therefore been made to the Finance Ministry for more money. He hoped the Cabinet would agree this.
6. I asked for an update on Hong Kong settlers in Hungary. Sudy said that Hungary remained interested in investment for Hong Kong but that there was no question of "selling passports". It had become apparent over time that the parties in Hong Kong and Hungary which had promoted the issue of Hong Kong settlers were "insubstantial". In practice the question
seemed to have gone away for the time being.
Comment
7
I hope that, if Sudy comes back to me on this issue, we could fix him up with some appropriate calls in London. I find him well informed and good value generally, with fairly serviceable English. A programme for him need not be a one-way street. He is, for example, knowledgeable on Indo-china and Korea and should be in a position to offer some insights.
Yours ever,
След Ану
G J Dorey First Secretary
cc: Chanceries: Peking, Hong Kong
Ms Sarah Gillett MVO, CED, FCO John Elliott Esq, RAD, FCO
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