368
PRIORITY TOKYO)
TELEGRAM NUMBER 907
CONFIDENTIAL 2307002
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
23 DECEMBER 1970.
ADDRESSED TO FOC TELNO 907 OF 23 DEO. REPEATED FOR INFORMATION
TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG, WASHINGTON, UKDEL EEC, UKMIS GENEVA,
UKDEL OECD.
356
YOUR TELNO 837 : GENERALISED PREFERENCES AND HONG KONG (369
WE HAVE STILL NOT BEEN ABLE TO SEE HIRAHARA IN THE MINISTRY
OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS WHO HAS BEEN COMPLETELY OCCUPIED WITH
TEXTILES AND BUDGETARY PROBLEMS, WE ARE HOPING TO SEE HIM
ON 28 DECEMBER WHEN WE SHALL TRY TO OBTAIN SOME CLARIFICATION
OF THE APPARENT CONFLICT BETWEEN ENDO'S LINE IN LONDON ABOUT
DEPENDENT TERRITORIES AND HARADA'S REMARKS TO US.
2. WE SHALL ALSO PUT TO HIM THE IDEA OF A VISIT BY HONG
KONG OFFICIALS. SENIOR JAPANESE ARE AT PRESENT VERY PREOCCUPIED
WITH THE BUDGET AND WILL THEN BE TAKING THEIR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.
SERIOUS WORK WILL NOT BEGIN AGAIN IN JAPANESE MINISTRIES
UNTIL ABOUT 11 JANUARY. WE SHALL, HOWEVER, PRESS HARD
FOR DETAILED DISCUSSIONS WITH HONG KONG REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT
DURING THE EARLY PART OF THAT WEEK (15 JANUARY IS A NATIONAL
HOLIDAY).
FCO PASS ROUTINE TO ALL.
STR J. PILCHER
[REPEALED, AS REQUESTED]
INLERNIMIONAL PRADE DISTRIBUTION
COPIES 10:
DEPS DIPH.
ENCIC 6/12
G.H. KEMIS, S., CRE1., D.T.I D.M. SUBLARA,
HONG KONG GO/RI
54, PALL MALL.
ORBICD,