TNAG-1551-FCO40-2115-Possible-cultural-agreement-between-Hong-Kong-and-Japan-1986 — Page 52

GRS 140

CONFIDENTIAL

TOP COPY

CONFIDENTIAL

FM TOKYO

TO DESKBY 19010OZ HONG KONG

TELNO 015

OF 1900O5Z FEBRUARY 85

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, FCO

MKK 291/1 RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

19 FEB 1986

DESK CFFICER

INDEX

PA

Ckr

REGIS.RY

Action Taken

HONG KONG TELNO 496 TO FCO:

HONG KONG AND JAPAN

POSSIBLE CULTURAL AGREEMENT DFTWEEN

MAKITA (DIRECTOR OF THE CHINA DIVISION, MFA) HAS CONFIRMED THAT THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING MAKING A CULTURAL GRANT-IN-AID TO HONG KONG. BUT HE GAVE NO INDICATION THAT THE JAPANESE HAD IN MIND THE NEGOTIATION OF A CULTURAL TREATY.

2. ACCORDING TO MAKITA, SUCH GRANTS DID NOT REQUIRE THE PRIOR NEGOTIATION OF A TREATY. AN EXCHANGE OF NOTES WOULD PROVIDE A SUFFICIENT LEGAL FRAMEWORK. THE VALIDITY OF THE NOTES COULD DE MADE CO-TERMINOUS WITH THAT OF THE CULTURAL PROJECTS CONCERNED.

3. WE ARE NOT COMPETENT TO COMMENT ON THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF THIS PROPOSAL. BUT AS SEEN FROM HERE, ANY JAPANESE OFFER OF CULTURAL

FUNDS TO HONG KONG SHOULD BE WELCOMED.

GIFFARD

LIMITED

(REPEATED AS REQUESTED)

HKD

CRD

FED

LEGAL ADU'S

MR WILSON

MR BARRINGTON

MR O'NEILL.

CONZIVONIAL

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