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FM TOKYO
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELNO 5
OF 030816Z SEPTEMBER
INFO ROUTINE FCO
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НКС
026/20
1992
сч
TOP COPY Q DIST?
175713
MDLIAN 9179
YOUR VISIT TO JAPAN: 25-28 NOVEMBER
SUMMARY
1. I AGREE THAT YOUR VISIT SHOULD BE MORE POLITICAL. THERE MIGHT
NOT BE TIME FOR OSAKA.
DETAIL
2. I AM DELIGHTED THAT THE PLAN FOR YOU TO VISIT JAPAN IN NOVEMBER IS CONFIRMED. THIS IS EXCELLENT TIMING FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW, AND
WE SHALL HELP IN ANY WAY WE CAN.
3.
WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE QUESTIONS IN YOUR TUR IN DETAIL WITH THE HKETO SO AS TO COORDINATE OUR ADVICE. WE AGREE VERY STRONGLY THAT YOUR FIRST VISIT HERE AS GOVERNOR SHOULD HAVE A POLITICAL FOCUS: IT WILL BE AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE HONG KONG'S PROFILE AND REINFORCE THE KEY MESSAGES ABOUT ITS FUTURE AND THE IMPORTANCE FOR
BOTH SIDES OF JAPAN'S STAKE.
4. I AGREE THEREFORE THAT YOU SHOULD CALL ON THE PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, FINANCE AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INDUSTRY. SOME OF THESE CALLS, PARTICULARLY ON THE PRIME MINISTER AND FOREIGN MINISTER, SHOULD BE SEEN AS PRIMARILY POLITICAL AND SHOULD (PREFERABLY, I AGREE) NOT INCLUDE THE DELEGATION.
5.
I AGREE TOO THAT YOU SHOULD AIM TO CALL ON CERTAIN INFLUENTIAL POLITICIANS CURRENTLY OUT OF OFFICE, SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS TO FOLLOW A LITTLE NEARER THE TIME: YOU WILL HAVE SEEN THAT THE SAGAWA SCANDAL HAS ALREADY FORCED KANEMARU'S RESIGNATION, AND OTHERS MAY FOLLOW: WE SHALL NEED TO SEE WHERE THE POWER LIES POST-SCANDAL. BUT AT PRESENT I WOULD BE THINKING (IN PRIORITY ORDER) OF: TAKESHITA, NAKASONE, OZAWA, AND EITHER MITSUZUKA OR YOSHIRO MORI. IF MICHIO WATANABE OR HATA LEAVE THE CABINET IN THE AUTUMN RESHUFFLE, THEY SHOULD BE ADDED AS ON-GOING INFLUENCERS. THIS
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