Published by: World Tibet Network News Saturday, December 13, 1997

TAIPEI, Dec 6 (AFP) - The Dalai Lama's first representative to Taiwan has made a quiet arrival here to promote ties between the Tibetan spiritual leader and the nationalist island's government, a report said Saturday.

Kelsang Takla, the Dalai Lama's former representative to London, is to head the Dalai Lama Tibetan Religious and Cultural Foundation in Taiwan, the China Times said.

The arrival of Takla, 53, was kept low key to avoid irking China, which accused Taipei of promoting Tibetan independence by paying host to the Dalai Lama when he made a historic visit to Taiwan in March.

"We will only focus on work, not on publicity," the paper quoted Takla as saying.

The foundation, which is currently looking for a home before it can formally open, is the Tibetan exiled government's 12th representative office worldwide.

The Dalai Lama has lived in northern Indian since fleeing Tibet in 1959 during a failed uprising against Chinese rule.