XN000022-1991-09-11 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1991

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CHIEF SECRETARY IN TOKYO

MEMBERS OF THE JAPAN/HONG KONG PARLIAMENTARY LEAGUE WERE GIVEN A BRIEFING IN TOKYO TODAY (WEDNESDAY) ON POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG AND THE NEW AIRPORT PROJECT, BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID FORD.

SIR DAVID SAID THERE WERE ALREADY EXTENSIVE AND STRONG COMMERCIAL, BANKING, TRADING AND INVESTMENT LINKS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND JAPAN.

"HOWEVER, IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT AS THE POLITICAL SYSTEM DEVELOPS IN HONG KONG AND THE LEGISLATORS HAVE AN INCREASING IMPACT ON POLICIES, THAT LINKS ARE DEVELOPED BETWEEN MEMBERS OF THE DIET AND THE HONG KONG LEGISLATURE.

HI

SIR DAVID SAID THIS HÁD BEEN RECOGNISED WITH THE

THE RECENT ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LEAGUE WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF MR TSUTOMU HATA, A MEMBER OF JAPAN'S RULING LIBERAL-DEMOCRATIC PARTY (LDP).

THE CHIEF SECRETARY REPEATED THE INVITATION TO LEAGUE MEMBERS TO VISIT HONG KONG EITHER TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR OR NEXT YEAR.

HE SAID MR HATA WAS ANXIOUS TO WIDEN THE GROUP TO INCLUDE SOME OPPOSITION MEMBERS. AS SOON AS THE PRESENT MEETING OF THE DIET WAS OVER, HE WOULD BE TURNING HIS ATTENTION TO THE LEAGUE WITH A VIEW ΤΟ VISITING HONG KONG IN THE NEW YEAR.

DURING TODAY'S MEETING, MEMBERS OF THE INTEREST IN HONG KONG AFFAIRS, INCLUDING THE DIRECT ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

GROUP EXPRESSED KEEN AIRPORT AND SUNDAY'S

THE

SIR DAVID ALSO SAID IN THE MEETING THAT PLANS WERE IN HÅND TO

OFFICE UPGRADE THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC AND TRADE

IN TOKYO WITH POSTING OF SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICER, MR DAVID LAN, BY THE END OF YEAR.

HE SAID THE MOVE WAS A REFLECTION INTEREST IN JAPAN.

THE

OF

HONG KONG'S GROWING

SIR DAVID IS IN TOKYO WITH THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE PROVISIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY, MR RICHARD

MR RICHARD ALLEN, TO BRIEF JAPANESE BANKERS, CONTRACTORS, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS RELATED TO THE NEW AIRPORT PROJECT.

OFFICERS,

WITH TOP

INCLUDING

BANKING THE

THEY HAD A FURTHER SERIES OF MEETINGS OFFICIALS AND SENIOR GOVERNMENT DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCE BUREAU OF THE FINANCE

MINISTRY.

SIR DAVID ALSO HAD A

30-MINUTE MEETING WITH THE JAPANESE

FOREIGN MINISTER, DR TARO NAKAYAMA.

TOMORROW, MR ALLEN AND THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR STEPHEN SELBY, WILL BRIEF SENIOR REPRESENTATIVES of MORE THAN 30 JAPANESE BANKS ABOUT THE AIRPORT PROJECT. THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY CLOSING REMARKS FROM THE CHIEF SECRETARY WORKING LUNCHEON WITH SOME OF THE COUNTRY'S TOP BANKERS.

BEFORE Á

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