TNAG-2714-FCO40-3920-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1993 — Page 9

14-JUL-1993 14:34

Gallagher

TRANSCRI PT MR ALASTAIR GOODLAD

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0491 579838

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SELECT COMMITTEE – 14 JULY 93

Turning to China and Taiwan, the memoranda we submitted are

pretty well up to date. Our Hong Kong responsibilities are

clearly of immense importance in our relations with China but we

have other important objectives also. We try to influence China's

international policies, we seek to increase United Kingdom exports

and we press for improvements in human rights. All these areas

were covered in the Foreign Secretary's talks in Peking during

his recent visit.

At

Finally, on Taiwan, our main objectives are commercial.

present our exports are in fact larger than those to the mainland.

The memorandum refers to the high level business delegation which

visited the United Kingdom from 30 June - 6 July, that was highly

successful and we now have to concentrate on following it up. Of

particular importance just now is the proposed joint venture

between British Aerospace and the Taiwan Aerospace Corporation on

which we hope for final agreement in the next few weeks.

We do not officially recognise Taiwan or have dealings with the

authorities there, but that does not prevent us from actively

pursuing our commercial objectives or indeed our interest in

educational exchanges, science and technology and so on.