XN000022-1989-11-04 — Page 2

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1989

JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS ON GOVERNOR

THE JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER, DR TARO NAKAYAMA. HAS HAD TALKS WITH THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, AND SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ON A RANGE OF ISSUES.

DURING THE TALK THIS (SATURDAY MORNING, DR NAKAYAMA REITERATED JAPAN'S CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG AND SUPPORT FOR THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION. HE COMMENTED THAT THE JAPANESE PRIVATE SECTOR WAS ALSO CONFIDENT ABOUT HONG KONG'S FUTURE, AS EVIDENCED BY THEIR CONTINUING HIGH LEVEL OF INVESTMENT IN THE TERRITORY.

FOR AND

ON THE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE ISSUE, HE EXPRESSED SYMPATHY THE BURDEN PLACED UPON HONG KONG BY THE ARRIVALS FROM VIETNAM, RECONFIRMED THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT'S BELIEF IN THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FULL AND BALANCED IMPLEMENTATION OF ALL ASPECTS OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION ADOPTED IN GENEVA IN JUNE THIS YEAR.

DR NAKAYAMA SAID JAPAN WOULD CONTINUE TO GIVE A HIGH PRIORITY TO ASSISTING THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES WITH THE INDO-CHINESE REFUGEE PROBLEM, PARTICULARLY IN HONG KONG.

THE FOREIGN MINISTER ALSO PLEDGED JAPAN'S CONTINUAL SUPPORT FOR THE PARTICIPATION OF HONG KONG IN THE FORUM FOR ASIA- PACIFIC ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION,

THE GOVERNOR WELCOMED WITH APPRECIATION THE CONTINUING HIGH LEVEL OF JAPANESE BUSINESS INTEREST IN HONG KONG.

HE SAID THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL BE CONSIDERING MEASURES TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR JAPANESE TO COME AND WORK IN HONG KONG, INCLUDING SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCING THE TIME TAKEN TO PROCESS EMPLOYMENT VISAS.

SIR DAVID OUTLINED HONG KONG'S PLANS FOR A NEW AIRPORT AND PORT DEVELOPMENT.

HE ALSO THANKED THE FOREIGN MINISTER FOR THE MAJOR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION WHICH THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT WERE MAKING TOWARDS UNHCR FOR THE VIETNAMESE PROBLEM IN HONG KONG.

HE WELCOMED THE AGREEMENT SOON TO BE SIGNED, BY WHICH THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT WILL EXTEND TO THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG A GRANT-IN-AID TO ENABLE THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG ΤΟ PURCHASE BOOKS AND AUDIO-VISUAL EQUIPMENT FOR ITS JAPANESE PROGRAMME.

KONG LATER TODAY

THE JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER LEAVES HONG AFTER CONCLUDING A TWO-DAY VISIT DURING WHICH HE ALSO ARGYLE STREET VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE DETENTION CENTRE.

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