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111420 MDLIA 0262
3.
OF EUROPEAN COUNTRIES IN TAIWAN AND EUROPEAN SHIPPING LINES, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOUR SUPPORT AND ADVICE IN SOLVING THIS MATTER IN A MOST APPROPRIATE WAY'.
THE DUTCH AND THE SWEDES WERE ALL FOR SENDING A LETTER IMMEDIATELY TO THE MINISTER ON BEHALF OF ETRO AS A WHOLE. I CAUTIONED THEM AGAINST THIS. SUPPORTED BY FRANCE AND DENMARK, I SAID THAT THE MATTER OF DIRECT SHIPPING LINKS WITH THE MAINLAND WAS ONE OF CONSIDERABLE SENSITIVITY. MOREOVER, I WOULD NEED TO CONSIDER WITH CARE ANY REFERENCE TO HONG KONG IN A LETTER TO WHICH ATTC WAS PARTY. SOME OF US MIGHT NEED TO GET INSTRUCTIONS AND ALSO SPEAK TO OUR OWN SHIPPING LINE REPRESENTATIVES. THE DANE ARGUED THAT IT MIGHT BE WORTH EXTENDING THE DEBATE TO OTHER ASPECTS OF TAIWANESE SHIPPING POLICY INCLUDING DISCRIMINATION AGAINST FOREIGN COMPANIES IN THE MATTER OF INLAND TRANSPORTATION, WAREHOUSING AND HANDLING OF CONTAINERS.
4.
IN VIEW OF THE COMPLEXITY OF THE SUBJECT, IT WAS AGREED TO HAVE A MEETING OF A SUB GROUP UNDER SWEDISH CHAIRMANSHIP ON 13 OCTOBER. WE SHALL OBVIOUSLY ATTEND. GRATEFUL FOR INSTRUCTIONS AS TO HOW WE SHOULD APPROACH THIS MATTER AND WHETHER WE MAY TAKE PART IN WHAT AMOUNTS TO A DEMARCHE TO THE TAIWANESE AUTHORITIES ON A SUBJECT OVER WHICH THEY ARE SOMEWHAT SENSITIVE.
5.
IN THE MEANTIME, I AM ASKING THE LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES
OF JARDINE'S, SWIRE'S AND P AND O FOR THEIR VIEWS AND FOR ANY ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND.
MORRICE
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MAIN
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.CHINA TRADE
FED
ECONOMIC ADVISERS
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ESED
HKD
INFO D//BRIEFWRITERS
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SIR J COLES
MR HUM
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