Mr Cortazzi
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 24311 N Mebaren przez
RECEIVED
MAY PRA
PS Lord Privy Seal
!
по
PA
N William 22.5
J22.5
(693)
(the only reference to Hong Kong
in
I No J225 appears to be the speat's note for ite
Suf Son Vietnamese refugees-flagged)
LORD PRIVY SEAL'S WORKING LUNCH WITH MR SONODA: 22 MA
MAYW. Chantill ~/5
1. The Lord Privy Seal has kindly agreed to host a lunch for Mr Sonoda, the Japanese Foreign Minister at 1.00 for 1.15 pm on Tuesday 22 May at No 1 Carlton Gardens. The purpose of Mr Sonoda's visit is to establish initial personal contact with Ministers in advance of the Economic Summit in
Tokyo on 28-29 June rather than to hold substantial discussions.
He will have called on the prime Minister and the Chancellor
on 21 May and will be calling on the Secretary of State at
5.00 pm on 22 May.
2. Mr Sonoda does not speak English and with interpretation there will not be time to discuss many subjects over lunch,
but he will be interested in a general account of the new Government's thinking of foreign affairs. He will have come from the opening session of the International Energy Agency Ministerial Meeting in Paris and will have very much on his mind energy issues and the Middle East.
(Japan is dependent on
imports for some 75 per cent of its energy requirements, and the Japanese have been particularly concerned abut events in Iran and price increases.) Although Japan's international
interests remain firmly based in North America and Asia, under Mr Sonoda Japanese foreign policy has begun to take more account of developments elsewhere and it would be useful to maintain the recently established dialogue with the Japanese on African
and Middle Eastern issues.
3. I submit a copy of the briefs prepared for the Secretary of State's meeting with Mr Sonoda comprising:
CONFIDENTIAL
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