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thrive and develop. I was greatly impressed by Hong Kong's
practical care for its citizens, for example in its major
I also had the pleasure of meeting
housing programme.
some of our armed forces personnel and their families,
as well as Hong Kong seamen who served in the South
Atlantic conflict. It was a most valuable visit.
I visited Japan from 17-22 October. I had previously
attended the Economic Summit in Tokyo in 1979 but this was
the first bilateral visit by a British Prime Minister
since 1972.
I met leaders of the Japanese business community, and
saw the advanced robotics production of a Japanese company
which has a collaboration agreement with a United Kingdom
firm. I visited a United Kingdom-built nuclear power station
which is still supplied with fuel and other materials by
the United Kingdom.
I had a series of talks with Mr Suzuki and his government,
in which we discussed political, economic and commercial
matters. We agreed that it would be desirable to expand
political co-operation between the United Kingdom and Japan;
to encourage collaboration in technology; and to co-ordinate
economic policies with a view to achieving a balanced increase
in trade, and stimulating employment and growth in our two
countries.