TNAG-1256-FCO40-1589-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 40

на

hoda

R&R to me wift last 2 parts of

The canker file.

British Embassy

RESTRICTED

Send to HKS.

овали

28110

No 1 Ichiban-Cho Chiyoda-ku Tokyo Nur

Telex J22755 (A/B PRODROME)

Mr. Monts

469

Jouds

pursue

Ле

have a moment!

ди

Telephone 265-5511

R P Margolis Esq

We and also discus torify of the

Japanese reference Do

Assistant Political Adviser Hong Kong

possibly submit 827/

Our reference INF 306/1

Date

13 October 1983

Mislment

Swast

I write, me should seep a concefullye om brief, the Japanese to make finne they geda defaced of balanced exposé of the problem. They of cause hame wide

nanging a sail and the Chinese as voning whell. My 110. It capt

лате

issue

lio. it

Cleacht

26/10

Groung Japanese cost. I propose we

Guidance tel in

NHK PROGRAMME ON HONG KONG

NR

ла

ean

Back to me.

1. Thank you for your telegram no. 76 of 16 September (not to FED) about Mr Kentaro Aono's visit to Hong Kong. In the event the telegram was received too late to pass to Aono before he left. The television programme which resulted from his visit, broadcast from 10 - 10:30 p.m. on 2 October, dealt reasonably well with the question of Hong Kong's future, though the average viewer would have been left with the impression that China holds many more, and better, cards in the game than does Britain. Aono himself, who was grateful for what it had been possible to arrange, commented rather ruefully that it seemed a good deal easier to hear China's case than Britain's.

MW.

2. Japanese press and television interest in the future of Hong Kong was aroused by the round of Anglo-Chinese talks which began in July, but comment has so far gone little beyond basic explication, for the sake of a largely uninformed audience, of the historical background and the main issues involved. It has, on the whole, been long on analysis and short on concrete proposals for a solution to what has become known here as the "Hong Kong Problem." Inevitably, however, we can expect the media here to become increasingly interested in Hong Kong and its future. Because of its proximity and the close links which already exist between Japan and Hong Kong, most journalists will probably come and go without telling us.

We would hope, however, that some would think it worthwhile, as Aono did, to seek our assistance, and it would be useful to have your guidance on how we should respond to such requests, and to whom we should refer them. Your telegram under reference implies that Aono might have been able to see the Governor or Political Adviser had they not been absent in Peking.

MKK040/5

RECEIVED IN ALOISTKY

2 3 OCT 1983

/Is

|MBOISTAY

Adjon faken

h

INDEX

PA

RESTRICTED