TNAG-1162-FCO40-1442-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Hong-Kong--1982 — Page 20

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thrive and develop. I was greatly impressed by Hong Kong's

practical care for its citizens, for example in its major

I also had the pleasure of meeting

housing programme.

some of our armed forces personnel and their families,

as well as Hong Kong seamen who served in the South

Atlantic conflict. It was a most valuable visit.

I visited Japan from 17-22 October. I had previously

attended the Economic Summit in Tokyo in 1979 but this was

the first bilateral visit by a British Prime Minister

since 1972.

I met leaders of the Japanese business community, and

saw the advanced robotics production of a Japanese company

which has a collaboration agreement with a United Kingdom

firm. I visited a United Kingdom-built nuclear power station

which is still supplied with fuel and other materials by

the United Kingdom.

I had a series of talks with Mr Suzuki and his government,

in which we discussed political, economic and commercial

matters. We agreed that it would be desirable to expand

political co-operation between the United Kingdom and Japan;

to encourage collaboration in technology; and to co-ordinate

economic policies with a view to achieving a balanced increase

in trade, and stimulating employment and growth in our two

countries.