TNAG-2926-FCO40-4201-Proposed-visits-by-the-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on--1993 — Page 2

RESTRICTED

FM ATTC TAIPEI

TO DESKBY 27103OZ FCO

TELNO 107

RESTRICTED

007666

MDHIAN 8654

R

HKD 126/13 Pre

30 AP 1993

IN.

OF 270925Z APRIL 93

INFO PRIORITY PEKING, HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

INFO PRIORITY BTC HONG KONG, TOKYO

YOUR TELNO 245 TO PEKING: FAC ENQUIRY INTO CHINA AND HONG KONG.

1.

ON TIMING, THERE COULD BE SOME GENERAL SENSITIVITY BECAUSE OF THE RUN-UP TO IMPORTANT LOCAL ELECTIONS IN DECEMBER. THE RULING PARTY WILL BE TRYING TO AVOID A REPEAT OF THE DRUBBING THEY TOOK AT LAST DECEMBER'S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. THIS YEAR, THE EMPHASIS IN THE ELECTIONEERING PERIOD IS LIKELY TO BE ON MAINLAND/TAIWAN CONTACTS, ON WHICH THE OPPOSITION IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY VOCAL.

2.

THE ONLY POINT ON TRAVEL IS THAT AS THEY WILL HAVE TO CHANGE PLANES IN HONG KONG BETWEEN MAINLAND CHINA AND TAIWAN, IT MAKES SENSE TO LEAVE THE LATTER UNTIL THE END WHEN THEY COULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE DIRECT FLIGHT TO LONDON.

3.

AS A GENERAL WARNING, IN VIEW OF THE TIMING CONSIDERATIONS MENTIONED ABOVE, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE GOVERNMENT HERE WILL WANT TO PLAY UP THE VISIT AS A FOREIGN RELATIONS SUCCESS, DEPENDING ON HOW THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN IS GOING.

I AGREE THAT THE COMMITTEE DOES NOT NEED A HOST, AS SUCH. IF IT NEEDS A SPONSOR FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF GETTING VISAS, ETC,

4

B

I THINK IT WOULD BE ENOUGH TO QUOTE THIS OFFICE. I IMAGINE WE WOULD NOT WANT TO CONSIDER THE FAC'S EQUIVALENT IN THE LEGISLATIVE YUAN OR THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.

5.

I IMAGINE THAT THE FAC'S VISIT HERE WILL EXCITE A LOT OF ATTENTION LOCALLY AND MANY PEOPLE WILL WANT TO TALK TO THE MP'S. I HOPE IT WILL BE AGREED THAT THIS OFFICE SHOULD BE FIRMLY IN CHARGE OF THE VISIT, AS WAS MADE CLEAR FOR THE FORTHCOMING VISIT BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT, OTHERWISE THINGS COULD GO. AWRY.

WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT MACHINE HERE, I SUGGEST WE ARRANGE MEETINGS WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTER, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MAINLAND

6.

i

PAGE RESTRICTED