TNAG-1551-FCO40-2115-Possible-cultural-agreement-between-Hong-Kong-and-Japan-1986 — Page 55

GRS 330

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

CONFIDENTIAL

TO IMMEDIATE FCO DESKBY 1709.0072

TELNO 496

OF 17035OZ FEBRUARY 86

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, TOKYO DESKBY 1709002.

TOP COPY

POSSIBLE CULTURAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN HONG KONG AND JAPAN-

THE FIRST SECRETARY AT THE JAPANSE CONSULATE, MP. NOBUAKU ITO, CALLED AT HIS OWN REQUEST ON FRED BUPPOWS (LAW OFFICER, SPECIAL DUTIES), INDICATING THAT HE WAS SPEAKING WITHOUT

INSTRUCTIONS AND ON HIW OWN PERSONAL INITIATIVE. ITO SAID THAT HE

WISHED TO EXPLORE THE LEGAL MECHANICS WHICH WOULD BE INVOLVED IF THE JAPANESE WERE TO PROPOSE THE NEGOTIATION AND CONCLUSION OF A CULTURAL TREATY BETWEEN JAPAN AND HONG KONG. BUPROWS (ALSO SPEAKING PERSONALLY) EXPLAINED THAT AN INSTRUMENT OF ENTRUSTMENT WOULD 3E

REQUIRED FROM THE UK TO ENABLE THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO CONCLUDE

ANY CULTURAL AGREEMENTS WITH JAPAN OR ANY OTHER STATE. THE OTHER

THEORETICAL POSSIBILITY WOULD BE FOP THE UK TO CONCLUDE THE

AGREEMENT ON HONG KONG'S BEHALF. ITO ALSO ASKED WHETHER IT WOULD

PE NECESSARY TO CONSULT THE CHINESE: BUPROWS REPLIED THAT THERE

WAS NO LEGAL REQUIREMENT TO DO SO, BUT THAT IF THE AGREEMENT WAS

INTENDED TO PUN ON AFTER 1997, THEN IT WAS LIKELY THAT THEY WOULD

BE TOLD ABOUT IT IN THE COURSE OF REGULAR CONTACTS. I-TO

ALSO ASKED WHETHER UK PARLIAMENT CONSENT WAS REQUIRED (HE INDICATED

THAT THE SORT OF AGREEMENT HE HAD IN MIND WOULD NOT (NOT) REQUIPE

APPROVAL BY THE JAPANESE PARLIAMENT). BURROWS SAID THAT THERE WAS

NO LEGAL OP CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIPEMENT FOR THE UK PARLIAMENT TO

BE CONSULTED BEFORE HONG KONG SIGNED AN AGREEMENT OF THIS KIND.

2. ALTHOUGH ITO'S APPROACH WAS A PERSONAL ONE, HE HINTED STRONGLY

THAT A MORE OFFICIAL APPROACH MIGHT DE MADE SOON, THE OBJECT PEING

TO CHANNEL JAPANESE FUNDS INTO CULTUPAL PROJECTS CONDUCTED WITHIN

THE FRAMEWORK OF HONG KONG EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. ANY SUCH

AGREEMENT WOULD PRESUMABLY BE PAPT OF A JAPANESE EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE IP IMAGE IN HONG KONG (AND POSSIBLY IN CHINA AS WELL). THE ANTI-JAPANESE DEMONSTRATIONS IN PEKING HAVE ATTRACTED A LOT OF ATTENTION HERE. THE NOTION THAT THE JAPANESE HAVE ACHIEVED BY ECONOMIC MEANS THE DOMINANCE IN ASIA WHICH THEY FAILED TO ACHIEVE BY MILITARY MEANS IS OFTEN BANDIED ABOUT IN HONG KONG. THE POLITICAL ADVISEP WILL BE DINING WITH THE JAPANESE CONSUL- GENERAL ON 20 FEPPUAPY. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE PROPOSAL MAY PE RAISED MORE FORMALLY THEN. GRATEFUL FOR ANY THOUGHTS WHICH YOU, TOKYO, OR PEKING MAY HAVE ON HOW TO PESPOND, DESKBY 1901007.

AKERS-JONES

LIMITED

HKD

CRD

FED

LEGAL ADVISERS

ME

WILSON.

MR BARRINGTON

MR O'NEILL

CONFIDENTIAL

MKK 25!!

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

17 FEB 1986

DESK ORFN INDEX

'EGISTRY

• tion Takch