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TO DISCUSS POINTS OF DIFFICULTY IN THE PRODUCTS LIST. OHTAKA
SAID THAT HE THOUGH COULD ARRANGE A MEETING BETWEEN MITI,
CURSELVES AND HONG KONG OFFICIALS AT WHICH THE LATTER COULD
EXPOUND THE CASE, BUT MITI WAS UNLIKELY TO BE PREPARED TO
DISCUSS INDIVIDUAL PRODUCTS.
5. THE MINISTER SAID WE WOULD REPORT THE CONVERSATION:
HE BELEIVED WE WOULD HAVE TO REVERT TO THE SUBJECT AT A
HIGHER LEVEL. SUZUKI AGREED THAT THIS WOULD BE THE RIGHT WAY
TO PROCEED, AND EMPHASISED HOW IMPRESSED SATO HAD BEEN BY HIS
DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PRIME MINISTER IN NEW YORK.
6. SINCE THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IS ALREADY IN FAVOUR
OF HONG KONG INCLUSION BUT IS BLOCKED AT THE MOMENT BY THE
INDUSTRY SIDE OF MITI WE SUGGEST THAT A MESSAGE FROM THE PRIME
MINISTER TO SATO WOULD BE MOST EFFECTIVE.
THE MESSAGE COULD INCLUDE A REFERENCE TO THE STATEMENT BY MR
SATO TO THE DIET ON 23 MARCH WHICH VIRTUALLY PROMISED HONG
KONGS INCLUSION (REPORTED IN WHITEHEADS LETTER TO DORWARD IN
HONG KONG, COPIED TO BURNS OF TRADE POLICY DEPT). THE MESSAGE
MIGHT CONTINUE THAT HE UNDERSTANDS THE PRODUCT LIST IS NOW BEING
CONSIDERED AND IS GIVING RISE TO SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES. THIS CAUSES
HIM CREAT CONCERN AND HE LOOKS TO MR SATO TO ENSURE THAT HONG KONGS
INTEREST ARE NOT DISCRIMINATED AGAINST AT THE RISK OF INSTABILITY
IN THE AREA. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ARE WILLING TO MAKE AVAILABLE
OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS THIS PROBLEM WITH JAPANESE OFFICIALS SO THAT
IN MR SATOS WORDS JAPANESE QUOTE LOCAL INDUSTRY WOULD NOT /BE
る。
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