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RECORD OF DISCUSSION AT WORKING LUNCH GIVEN EXEVEE FOREIGNNO. 51 AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY FOR THE JAPANESE FOREIGN MIN 1985ER AT 1 PM ON TUESDAY, 4 JANUARY 1983 AT ADMIRALTY HOUSE
Present:
Mr Francis Pym Sir J Bullard
Mr CSR Giffard
Mr D H A Hannay
Mr A G Hurrell (ODA)
Mr H D A C Miers
Mr M Elliott
Mr J E Holmes
Hong Kong
DESK OFFICEK INDEX
Mr Shintaro Abe
PA
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Mr Tsuyoshi Hirahara Mr Nobuo Matsunaga
Mr Yoshiya Kato
Mr Masaki Seo
Mr Koichi Tsutsumi
REGISTRY
Acton Takan
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Mr Yukio Satoh (Japanese Embassy) Mr Kazuo Asakai
8. Mr Pym said that we were discussing the future of Hong
Kong with the Chinese. The problem was to maintain confidence
among the Hong Kong business community, which had had exaggerated
expectations of the Prime Minister's visit to China. The Chinese
appeared not to understand the importance of British admini-
stration. The UK was trying to accelerate the process of
negotiation. Mr Pym expressed the hope that over the next
year the Japanese government and business community would
maintain business as usual in Hong Kong as a contribution to
confidence. Mr Abe said that he was aware of the significance
and contribution of Hong Kong to trade and economic stability
in Asia and more widely. He took note of what Mr Pym had said
and hoped for a satisfactory solution.
9. Mr Matsunaga commented that sovereignty was clearly a
question of principle for the Chinese and they were unlikely
to give way on this point, particularly because of the connection with the Taiwan question. How would the British government deal
with this? Mr Pym agreed that the Chinese did see sovereignty in
this way, but the fact was that Kowloon and Hong Kong Island had
been ceded to Britain in international law. Britain could not
just accept the Chinese view. It would be necessary to come to
some arrangement which took account of the Chinese view and of
the wish of the 5 million inhabitants of Hong Kong to live in security and prosperity. Mr Abe gave it as his personal view
that the Chinese people were very pragmatic and would not want
to exert excessive pressure for change in the existing situation.
of Hong Kong, because it had brought them advantage. Mr Pym said
that this was encouraging, and Sir J Bullard added that the Chinese
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