CONFIDENTIAL
9.
But the Japanese are still dragging their feet over this issue. Their continued insistence on a very restrictive definition of a business visitor, which would exclude all but 2% or 3% of Hong Kong companies (and indeed also any businessmen who had taken up a job with his present employer less than 3 years before application) is very disappointing. Their wish to insert a cut off date in 1994 would also make
the agreement considerably less attractive. It would appear that the blockage has occurred in the Ministry of Justice.
10.
Although this is a relatively minor technical issue, it would be helpful if Lord Caithness could draw attention to it as a small but useful step which could take to promote confidence in Hong Kong.
POMACB/6
CONFIDENTIAL