CONFIDENTIAL
Kong.
11.
Hope
We welcome such investments as beneficial to Hong Kong. Japan will continue to do all it can to maintain confidence of Hong Kong people in their future.
Hong Kong/Japan Multiple Entry Visa
12.
A small but useful step which Japanese Government could take to
demonstrate their support for Hong Kong would be the early
conclusion of agreement on Multiple Entry Visas. This would not
only be helpful as demonstration of Japanese confidence in Hong Kong's future. It would also have immediate beneficial impact on business travellers between Hong Kong and Japan.
13.
But hope that Japanese Government will not continue to insist
on a very restrictive definition of business visitors, which would exclude all but a small proportion of Hong Kong companies. Unless this definition can be widened, there would be little purpose in
having an agreement at all and almost no time to implement it before
the proposed cut-off date in 1997.
PADS
14.
Aware of considerable Japanese interest in PADS projects, view
this as very beneficial. Airport and infrastructure projects vital to Hong Kong's future.
15. Grateful for Japanese Government's briefing of Chinese on
Japan's interest in the projects. Clearly important to bring Chinese on side. Mr Maude made this point forcefully during his visit to China in late July. Premier Li Peng agreed that Hong Kong did require a replacement airport: important advance.
16. Pleased that the Anglo/Japanese consortium appears to be well placed for success in winning a major part of the contract for the
fixed link. HMG is giving full support to consortium.