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CONFIDENTIAL
DIEU
ET MON
DROIT
10 DOWNING STREET
ME Millington, FEW
(You have a forsin
copy of
the /
coped to west-ed Bests
From the Private Secretary
FEJ 026/3
20 September 1989
3-00T
Dear Bob,
En 3/10
PRIME MINISTER'S MEETING WITH THE JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER
The Prime Minister had a brief talk with the Japanese Foreign Minister at the British Ambassador's Residence in Tokyo this afternoon. Mr. Nakayama was accompanied by the Japanese Ambassador in London, Mr. Togo (Director General of European and Oceanic Affairs) and one other official. H.M. Ambassador Tokyo was also present.
Anglo-Japanese Relations
The Prime Minister said that the friendship and partnership between Britain and Japan were excellent. She had used her speech to the Economic Organisations to urge Japan to open its economy as much as the United Kingdom had opened its own. we pressed forward with liberalisation of the world economy, there was a real danger of a relapse into protectionism.
China
Unless
The Prime Minister said that she would like to hear how the Japanese saw a number of the problems affecting the Pacific area. Events in China in June had been a shock, particularly for Hong Kong. Personally she had been surprised by the turn of events. In her various meetings with Deng Xiaoping he had always given the impression of being scarred by the experience of the cultural revolution and determined to avoid anything similar. People in Hong Kong were now very worried about their future. We all had to do everything possible to increase their confidence and to ensure that the Joint Declaration was honoured.
Mr. Nakayama said that Japan was well aware of the United Kingdom's particular concern about Hong Kong. This had been clear from the Prime Minister's speech the previous evening, as well as her speech to the Economic Organisations. Events in China had been a shock for Japan too and the pace of co- operation with China had been markedly slowed down. The Japanese Government had conveyed to the Chinese their hope that China would sustain its commitment to a policy of openness. They very much hoped that China would not alter its position towards Hong Kong. They were following the situation very closely.
CONFIDENTIAL
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