TNAG-2794-FCO40-4034-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Taiwan-1993 — Page 173

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YRTELNO 57 AND HONG KONG TELNO 2776: TAIWAN/HONG KONG RELATIONS

SUMMARY

1. CURRENT TAIWAN POLICY ON HONG KONG EXPLAINED. CONFIRMATION OF INTENTION TO OPEN CULTURAL AND INFORMATION OFFICE BUT BASED ON EXISTING REPRESENTATION. INVITATIONS TO EXPLAIN OUR INTERESTS AT A HIGHER LEVEL. POSSIBLE PROBLEM OVER TIMING.

DETAIL

2. I FINALLY SAW JASON HU, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION OFFICE (GIO), ON 18 JANUARY. HE APOLOGISED PROFUSELY FOR HAVING HAD TO CANCEL VARIOUS PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS DUE TO THE PRESSURE OF THE LEGISLATIVE YUAN ELECTIONS AND THE AFTERMATH OF THESE. I THINK THIS IS GENUINE.

3. I EXPLAINED TO HU OUR CONCERN AT ANY UPGRADING OF THE TAIWANESE PRESENCE IN HONG KONG DURING THE CURRENT DELICATE STATE OF OUR RELATIONS WITH CHINA ARISING FROM POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS N THE TERRITORY. THE TIMING, NATURE OF THE FUNDING AND THE NAME OF THE NEW GIO OFFICE WERE MATTERS OF SOME SENSITIVITY ON WHICH WE REQUIRED CLARIFICATION.

4. HU SAID THAT HE WANTED TO ENLIGHTEN ME ON TAIWAN'S CURRENT APPROACH TO HONG KONG AND TO OUR DIFFICULTIES WITH THE CHINESE SO AS TO ASSURE US OF THEIR GOOD INTENTIONS. HE REFERRED BACK TO BARONESS THATCHER'S VISIT AND TO HER PRIVATE MEETING WITH PREMIER HAU ON 2 SEPTEMBER. THIS HAD BEEN A TETE A TETE. AT WHICH NO-ONE ELSE OTHER THAN JASON HU HAD BEEN PRESENT WHEN HE ACTED AS INTERPRETER. THE MAIN SUBJECT OF THE MEETING WAS HONG KONG. HAU HAD EXPLAINED TO BARONESS THATCHER THE TAIWANESE GOVERNMENT'S CONCERN THAT NOT ENOUGH WAS BEING DONE TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE POLITICAL INTERESTS OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE IN THE FINAL YEARS OF BRITISH RULE. BARONESS THATCHER HAD SAID THAT WHILST IN OFFICE SHE HAD TAKEN MATTERS AS FAR AS SHE COULD IN THE FACE OF CHINESE INTRANSIGENCE, BUT THAT THEY COULD NOW COUNT ON MR PATTEN TO GO

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