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THAT SUCH A REQUEST HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE VIA CHUNG HWA TRAVEL SERVICE.
5. THE TAIWANESE APPROACH MAY BE ENTIRELY INNOCENT BUT I SUSPECT NOT. S P CHO IS A MEMBER OF THE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE ON AEROSPACE AND AVIATION. AS SUCH, HE IS WELL BRIEFED ON THE BAE/TAC JOINT VENTURE ON WHICH HE VOICED HIS STRONG SUPPORT TO THE SELECT COMMITTEE YESTERDAY.
HIS SUDDEN DESIRE TO GO TO VIETNAM VIA HONG KONG AND THEN TO HAVE INFORMAL TALKS IN THE LATTER COULD WELL BE A TEST, ENGINEERED BY THE TAIWANESE GOVERNMENT, OF WHETHER YOU AND WE ARE PREPARED TO RELAX OUR POSITION ON VISAS FOR SENIOR TAIWANESE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND QUOTE MINISTERS UNQUOTE.
6. IN THIS CONNECTION I HAVE JUST RECEIVED BY TODAY'S CONFIDENTIAL BAG A COPY OF THE DPA'S FAX OF 4 JUNE TO HONG KONG DEPARTMENT ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES IN HONG KONG OF THE NEW KUONINTANG ALLIANCE DELEGATION. I CAN SEE THAT THIS CREATES NERVOUSNESS ABOUT ISSUING VISAS TO TAIWANESE OFFICIALS/POLITICIANS ALTHOUGH I ALSO HAVE TO POINT OUT THAT WE ARE AT AN EXTREMELY DELICATE STAGE IN THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE TAIWANESE TO SET UP A JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT ON AEROSPACE. IN MY TELNO 168 TO FCO, I LISTED THE VARIOUS AREAS WHERE THE TAIWANESE HAD SOUGHT CONCESSIONS FROM US OF A POLITICAL NATURE. THIS LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER AND COULD BE SEEN BY THEM AS THE QUOTE ACID TEST UNQUOTE, GIVEN THE TIME PRESSURE THEY ARE PUTTING ON US AND ITS CONCURRENCE WITH THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS ON THE
JOINT VENTURE AND THE IMMINENT OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE UK OF DR
JEFFREY KOO AND HIS VIP MISSION.
7.
FROM MY NARROW POINT OF VIEW, I CAN ONLY ARGUE IN FAVOUR OF GRANTING THE VISAS BUT I APPRECIATE THAT THERE MAY BE WIDER ISSUES AT PLAY. EITHER WAY I SHOULD GIVE THE TAIWANESE AN ANSWER TOMORROW. 24 JUNE IS A PUBLIC HOLIDAY HERE.
GRATEFUL FOR INSTRUCTIONS.
8.
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