From: Private Secretary
To: PS/No 10
JAPAN
Thank you for your letter of 23 November about a
message from the Prime Minister which Lord Young can
convey to the Japanese Prime Minister, Mr Kaifu, when they meet in Japan later this week. I attach a suggested
draft message, following consultation with the Department
of Trade and Industry, HM Treasury and the Department of
Transport.
The message refers back to the Prime Minister's
meeting with Mr Kaifu in September, and looks forward to
the possibility of a further meeting in January next year
when Mr Kaifu will be in Europe (we are still consulting
with the Japanese over dates for this meeting). The
message then briefly reviews progress on a number of
fronts since September. On Eastern Europe, Mr Kaifu
wrote to the Prime Minister on 22 November to inform her
of Japan's proposals for assistance to Poland and
Hungary.
The message thanks Mr Kaifu for his letter and
for Japan's contribution to Western assistance to Eastern
Europe. Hong Kong is also mentioned. The Japanese
Foreign Minister, Mr Nakayama visited Hong Kong in early
November, partly in response to our lobbying for Japanese
support for Hong Kong. We wish to show the Japanese that we appreciate their efforts.
PD7ACX
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