CONFIDENTIAL
(b)
On Hong Kong, the Japanese will continue to be
helpful with the Chinese. There was just a whiff of a
feeling that we were pushing democracy too far but that
view was not generally advanced. They are looking
forward to the Governor's visit to Tokyo later this month.
They are keen to help persuade the Clinton Administration
that non-renewal of MFN status for China will be damaging
for Hong Kong and want to stay in touch about this.
8.
We
The Minister of State has recently given
receptions connected with China and Hong Kong. I wonder
whether he would be prepared to do the same for Japan.
should need an event on which to hang it but it could be
useful to bring together MPS, members of the UK/Japan 2000 Group, the Japan/European Community Association, the
Japanese Embassy and the press. (Sir John Boyd tells me
that a recent academic study shows that of the British press only the Economist and the Financial Times provide
serious coverage of Japan. The rest will cover
"atrocities", "comfort women", corruption and crime but
not much else).
John Cole
معهما
Sir John Coles
CONFIDENTIAL