(a) The first part would be a small round table conference, sponsored by the UK-Japan 2000 Group. This would explore the dimensions of the problem areas-and seek to identify possible mutual concerns and courses of action.
(b) The second part would be a "platform" and fee paying conference, sponsored by the 2000 Group, or possibly the Hong Kong Government, and run by the RIIA/ HK University which would bring the conclusions of the round table for discussion among a wider audience of politicians, government officials, business people, academics and the media.
A possible title for the conference might be: "Britain, Japan, and Asia to the next century-Trade, Security and Cooperation."
The role of the 2000 Group would be to act as sponsor of the conference. We, at this end, would be willing to organize and arrange the administration of the conference. There is of course the matter of the responsibility for funding to be considered-but I believe that the British and Hong Kong Governments might carry a substantial part of the burden.
I would be most grateful for your early response to these ideas. There are obviously a number of important political sensitivities to be considered, but I believe that we should now try to move forward on this idea. Chris Patten has promised to lend his appropriate support. I do not envisage making a final decision on the principle or the timing of the conference until after our Awashima conference.
I have asked Jim Eberle to write also to write to Tadashi Yamamoto.