UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 3688
OF 06120OZ NOVEMBER 89
INFO IMMEDIATE TOKYO
HKB
020113
COPY Q Disi ?
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, WASHINGTON, UKMIS GENEVA, CANBERRA
18
147635
MDHIAN 3128
MY MEETING WITH JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER NAKAYAMA: 4 NOVEMBER
TEXT OF THE JOINT PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED AFTER MY MEETING WITH
ΝΑΚΑΥΑΜΑ IS AS FOLLOWS :
1. THE JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER, DR TARO NAKAYAMA, VISITED HONG KONG ON 3-4 NOVEMBER. ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON HE VISITED A VIETNAMESE
DETENTION CENTRE. ON SATURDAY HE HELD VALUABLE AND PRODUCTIVE TALKS
WITH THE GOVERNOR ON A RANGE OF ISSUES.
2. FOREIGN MINISTER NAKAYAMA REITERATED JAPAN'S CONFIDENCE IN HONG
KONG AND SUPPORT FOR THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION. HE COMMENTED THAT THE JAPANESE PRIVATE SECTOR WAS ALSO CONFIDENT ABOUT HONG KONG'S FUTURE. THIS WAS DEMONSTRATED BY THEIR CONTINUING HIGH LEVEL OF INVESTMENT IN THE TERRITORY.
HE EXPRESSED SYMPATHY FOR THE BURDEN PLACED UPON HONG KONG BY THE ARRIVALS FROM VIETNAM, AND RECONFIRMED THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT'S BELIEF IN THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FULL AND BALANCED IMPLEMENTATION OF ALL ASPECTS OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION ADOPTED IN GENEVA IN JUNE THIS YEAR. HE SAID THAT JAPAN WOULD CONTINUE TO GIVE A HIGH PRIORITY TO ASSISTING UNHCR WITH THE INDO-CHINESE REFUGEE PROBLEM, PARTICULARLY IN HONG KONG.
THE FOREIGN MINISTER ALSO RECONFIRMED JAPAN'S SUPPORT FOR THE PARTICIPATION OF HONG KONG IN THE ASIA AND PACIFIC ECONOMIC FORUM.
3. THE GOVERNOR WELCOMED WITH APPRECIATION THE CONTINUING HIGH LEVEL OF JAPANESE BUSINESS INTEREST IN HONG KONG. HE SAID THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL BE CONSIDERING MEASURES TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR JAPANESE TO COME AND WORK IN HONG KONG, INCLUDING SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCING THE TIME TAKEN TO PROCESS EMPLOYMENT VISAS.
THE GOVERNOR OUTLINED HONG KONG'S PLANS FOR A NEW AIRPORT AND PORT DEVELOPMENT.
HE ALSO THANKED THE FOREIGN MINISTER FOR THE MAJOR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION WHICH THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT WERE MAKING TOWARDS UNHCR FOR THE VIETNAMESE PROBLEM IN HONG KONG.
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