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Also Tonate (h) on the attached Tapanese Emborry payer.
Mr Davies and I attended a meeting on 23 March hosted
by the Japanese Embassy to discuss the conference they are
planning to hold on UK/Japan relations with new money channelled through the Japan Foundation.
I attach a paper
prepared by the Japanese Embassy which sets out the concept.
I have recorded below the main points of discussion.
Evolution from Hong Kong Conference
t
2.
Sir James Eberle explained that the original proposal
had been for a conference on Hong Kong/China issues as an
extension of the discussion at the 2000 Group's annual
conference. It had become apparent that there were
difficulties over a conference in Hong Kong and that it would
be easier if it were held in London. The thought had then
been that a conference might be held back to back with the
10th Anniversary of the 2000 Group in the UK next year. This
would have on the agenda Hong Kong, China, Asia-Pacific and
other foreign policy issues. Owada had given the idea
informal support.
Timing
3. There was no consensus on when the conference should be
held. Sir James Eberle was in favour of linking it with the 10th Anniversary and concerned that an earlier conference could not be organised in time. The Japanese Embassy were keen to have the conference as soon as possible, maybe in
November. The difficulty of influential people being able to spend time out of Japan to attend both the conference and the 2000 Group meeting was pointed out. Mr Louis Turner of Chatham House said that it all might depend on the
availability of a venue for the conference.
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