GRS 330
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
TO IMMEDIATE FCO DESKBY 1709.0072
TELNO 496
OF 17035OZ FEBRUARY 86
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, TOKYO DESKBY 1709002.
TOP COPY
POSSIBLE CULTURAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN HONG KONG AND JAPAN-
THE FIRST SECRETARY AT THE JAPANSE CONSULATE, MP. NOBUAKU ITO, CALLED AT HIS OWN REQUEST ON FRED BUPPOWS (LAW OFFICER, SPECIAL DUTIES), INDICATING THAT HE WAS SPEAKING WITHOUT
INSTRUCTIONS AND ON HIW OWN PERSONAL INITIATIVE. ITO SAID THAT HE
WISHED TO EXPLORE THE LEGAL MECHANICS WHICH WOULD BE INVOLVED IF THE JAPANESE WERE TO PROPOSE THE NEGOTIATION AND CONCLUSION OF A CULTURAL TREATY BETWEEN JAPAN AND HONG KONG. BUPROWS (ALSO SPEAKING PERSONALLY) EXPLAINED THAT AN INSTRUMENT OF ENTRUSTMENT WOULD 3E
REQUIRED FROM THE UK TO ENABLE THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO CONCLUDE
ANY CULTURAL AGREEMENTS WITH JAPAN OR ANY OTHER STATE. THE OTHER
THEORETICAL POSSIBILITY WOULD BE FOP THE UK TO CONCLUDE THE
AGREEMENT ON HONG KONG'S BEHALF. ITO ALSO ASKED WHETHER IT WOULD
PE NECESSARY TO CONSULT THE CHINESE: BUPROWS REPLIED THAT THERE
WAS NO LEGAL REQUIREMENT TO DO SO, BUT THAT IF THE AGREEMENT WAS
INTENDED TO PUN ON AFTER 1997, THEN IT WAS LIKELY THAT THEY WOULD
BE TOLD ABOUT IT IN THE COURSE OF REGULAR CONTACTS. I-TO
ALSO ASKED WHETHER UK PARLIAMENT CONSENT WAS REQUIRED (HE INDICATED
THAT THE SORT OF AGREEMENT HE HAD IN MIND WOULD NOT (NOT) REQUIPE
APPROVAL BY THE JAPANESE PARLIAMENT). BURROWS SAID THAT THERE WAS
NO LEGAL OP CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIPEMENT FOR THE UK PARLIAMENT TO
BE CONSULTED BEFORE HONG KONG SIGNED AN AGREEMENT OF THIS KIND.
2. ALTHOUGH ITO'S APPROACH WAS A PERSONAL ONE, HE HINTED STRONGLY
THAT A MORE OFFICIAL APPROACH MIGHT DE MADE SOON, THE OBJECT PEING
TO CHANNEL JAPANESE FUNDS INTO CULTUPAL PROJECTS CONDUCTED WITHIN
THE FRAMEWORK OF HONG KONG EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. ANY SUCH
AGREEMENT WOULD PRESUMABLY BE PAPT OF A JAPANESE EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE IP IMAGE IN HONG KONG (AND POSSIBLY IN CHINA AS WELL). THE ANTI-JAPANESE DEMONSTRATIONS IN PEKING HAVE ATTRACTED A LOT OF ATTENTION HERE. THE NOTION THAT THE JAPANESE HAVE ACHIEVED BY ECONOMIC MEANS THE DOMINANCE IN ASIA WHICH THEY FAILED TO ACHIEVE BY MILITARY MEANS IS OFTEN BANDIED ABOUT IN HONG KONG. THE POLITICAL ADVISEP WILL BE DINING WITH THE JAPANESE CONSUL- GENERAL ON 20 FEPPUAPY. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE PROPOSAL MAY PE RAISED MORE FORMALLY THEN. GRATEFUL FOR ANY THOUGHTS WHICH YOU, TOKYO, OR PEKING MAY HAVE ON HOW TO PESPOND, DESKBY 1901007.
AKERS-JONES
LIMITED
HKD
CRD
FED
LEGAL ADVISERS
ME
WILSON.
MR BARRINGTON
MR O'NEILL
CONFIDENTIAL
MKK 25!!
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
17 FEB 1986
DESK ORFN INDEX
'EGISTRY
• tion Takch