TNAG-1551-FCO40-2115-Possible-cultural-agreement-between-Hong-Kong-and-Japan-1986 — Page 4

CODE 18-77

ith

Mr Smith

HKD

CONFIDENTIAL

Mr. Hij kuk

Reference........

We spoke.

CC:

7) 23/12

Mrs Blackwell, CRD

POSSIBLE HONG KONG/JAPAN CULTURAL AGREEMENT

1.

Your minute of 17 December to Mr Fifoot enclosed the text covering the proposed grant for the purchase of equipment for the University of Hong Kong. I have seen but occasional papers on the subject of the proposed cultural agreement but my impression from the draft text is that the mountains have brought forth a mouse.

2. But my purpose in minuting is to record our mild surprise, without wishing for a moment to suggest a holier than thou attitude, that the terms of the grant are so blatantly tied to Japanese equipment (paragraph 2). This is a matter for the Hong Kong Government but in these days of Japan's massive trade surpluses, I would have thought that the Japanese Consul-General might win himself more points if he were to make the gesture of untying the grant to allow the purchase of British equipment.

HKK 291/1 REGEN

2 2 JAN 1987

1C

INDA

PA

'n Faken

ал

LAST PAPER

سا

23 December 1986

In Restin

The papers.

aply

صه

with

P Dimond

Far Eastern Department

Paul Fifest from Snow

awaita

Pse memind PF next week! FEI)'s comments above

should be incorporated into

An Art

ть гал

ра

pa dízılı

out

перву

reply to Hay Kay (Anthey/Pieres)

MX31/12

CONFIDENTIAL