RESTRICTED
Foreign & Commonwealth
Office
6 November 1992
W Ehrman Esq Political Adviser
HONG KONG
(by fax)
Year William
HKD (21/1
PROPOSED UK/JAPAN CONFERENCE IN HONG KONG
1.
London SWIA 2AH
Telephone: 071-
Mr Mani ?!!
270 2951
Mr Jonny Jones
Pane
19/41
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panna.
Steven Bradley wrote to Simon Sherrington in this department on 13 October giving advice on a proposed UK/Japan conference in Hong Kong. He made some well-taken points on the format of the conference, particularly that it should include Hong Kong participation, and on attendance by the Governor. He asked that we keep in touch with you on our thinking.
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2. You may have seen that David Howell MP wrote to the Governor on 22 October about the UK-Japan 2000 Group meeting in March next year, which the Governor has decided to attend. In that letter (paragraph 2 on the second page) he mentions the proposed conference, suggesting that it should focus on the economic prosperity and political stability of Hong Kong. This is a far narrower concept than we had been contemplating. Our feeling is that, while Hong Kong is a good location for the conference, if it were to be too closely geared to the subject of Hong Kong it would be restricted in scope and not attract the high-level of participant that we are seeking (particularly as our aim is to obtain the endorsement of the British and Japanese Prime Ministers). A narrow focus on Hong Kong could also bring down on our heads Chinese accusations of trying to internationalise the Hong Kong issue.
3.
Our idea is that the conference should cast its net wider and, while it might include a session on Hong Kong, should not be exclusively devoted to it. We believe that this should avoid the internationalisation problem and ought to attract a broader range of people, making it suitable for Prime Ministerial endorsement. Our initial and tentative proposal for a title is "Britain, Japan and Asia into the 21st century trade, security and co-operation". to do better. on this idea.
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This is very much a first stab and you may be able In any case I should welcome your further thoughts You may also wish to take into account our thinking in any reply the Governor sends to Mr Howe. We would prefer however that you did not reveal to Mr Howell that we had seen a copy of his letter, as it was passed to us in confidence by Sir James Eberle.
Letukjapan411
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